buying a car remotely

I could never buy a car without seeing it first in person.

Yep.....Fairlane we bought years ago.....had a crapload of pictures of the body. Looked great. Floors were roofing felt/tar.

If you can not find a trusted person to look at it then let it go. And if you can find a trusted person YOU give them a list of what to look at, do not just assume that because they are a fellow gear head that they will look at what you would look at.