Agree with most of what you say, Punky. I spent 26 years flying across oceans in ancient military airplanes (in the Reserves), that active duty people had discarded. Our inspectors were all required to at least climb aboard and fly around the patch in any plane they signed off as fixed, so that improved our confidence a bit. We didn't carry parachutes, either....
In the case of #1447, it's bad but less awful looking than Mad Dog Antenucci's Pantera that burned to the ground during an Open Track event, was totally rebuilt and returned to run more such events at absurd speeds without difficulty. Significantly, Mad Dog hired top-o-the-line mechs to restore his smoking heap, not the lowest bidders. So #1447 could turn out well regardless of the reported sale price, and if so it will be one more DeTomaso saved from a scrapyard. Bravo! It was also not likely bought by a car-flipper due to the amount of work it needs.