HOW BAD IS IT!

" professionally restored" is extremely questionable in my mind. But I must say as Jack wheeled as it is the welds don't look too bad. There may have been some kind of purpose that we're not aware of. But I do know if you Google "3 inch header flange" you'll see that this could have been remedied with a $22 part that's welded in. This is where my $14 Harbor Freight cutting wheel and grinder and my $99 Harbor Freight welder pay for themselves every time fixing stuff like this. Take it to an exhaust shop and see how much they charger and mark up the price of the header flanges. If the car has been professionally restored then this is simply the only thing you have to fix the exhaust and a transmission? Motor? Rearend ?