I am not doubting you on this one Ned but generally cars that are sold as non runners are usually a lot worse than they initially appear. As if they were an easy fix, why didn't the seller fix it.

I have been caught with this before, a Certain cinquecento with a failed headgasket. After fixing it, I found lots of other issues that would have been obvious if the car had been a runner.

There are always exceptions though.