buying cars over long distances question

I drove up with my father from Ga to NJ, to pick up an 83 Ramcharger and drove it home. just over 800 miles got it for $355. also drove from Ga to TN to pick up a 5th ave he bought for $102 also drove it home that was 420 miles. but to be honest we are both truck drivers and don't really mind the long road trips.
The thing is you have to be able to look at it as an adventure and make the trip with someone that has the same outlook you do on it. BTW the shipping quote on the TN 5th ave was over $600 and we went up and back in less than a day and may have spent $200 with gas meals and all. the run up to NJ cost more we stayed in a motel overnight on the way back. I think we had about $600 in that trip. Was worth every penny going on the road trip with my father as well as coming out with Mopars to play with.
Just so you don't think I'm simply painting a rosy picture the NJ trip was uneventful all went well, but the TN trip. the 5th ave ended up having a cracked block from the water jacket to the outside so no mix of oil and water but kept running hot several times on the way home. we kept having to add water and couldn't find a leak till I pulled the engine ( was bought for parts) and found a hairline crack down the side from core plug to core plug. was cool we were after body parts anyway. David