[thstone]

Just a suggestion about buying a rolling chassis where the engine doesn't run:

There is a lot of risk in that most features of the car can't be checked without the engine running, e.g., air conditioning, cooling system, transmission, ECU, clutch, a lot of the wiring, etc.

Beyond that, be sure to put a fully charged battery in the car so you can check the lights, climate controller, sound system, soft top operation, immobilizer/alarm, electic door locks and windows, etc.