$3K doesn't go far anymore. Once in a while something will surface where the seller has been out of touch with cars for many years and has the same value in mind as what they'd have wanted 10 years ago, but more often I've been finding what I would consider parts cars (due to rust or wreck issues) with asking prices of up to $6K, and this is not for cars with any special/rare features! Sorry, but that's just not realistic. Someone with less experience may still buy it, but it's going to be a nightmare rather than a fun and memorable restoration, and fixing the problems can eat up the whole restoration budget or compromise the final job if they are not properly fixed.

If you get the car for its scrap value, that's a different story. It's hard to go wrong, even if you find the body isn't salvageable.

If you can't part out the car for more than the asking price, then the asking price is too high. Just my opinion.

If it's an original 400 car, it should have all the badging on the deck lid, hood and bumper.