just save the money for another time... :?

With the body being in moderately tough condition, I wouldn't underestimate the engine noises you heard/experienced. Typically the condition of the interior/exterior is a resemblence of the engine condition! Be careful.

It'* quite possible and likely that the rattle you heard at start up and shut down was the supercharger coupler, which is a cheap and easy DIY fix. Well, "easy" in direct proportion to your mechanical inclination, that is.

Should have mentioned the smoke he noticed on the back side of the firewall too. It never hurts to be too cautious! Plus, it gives you another barganing chip if you are convinced that the repairs aren't too tough for you to perform.

Yes. If it was hot, could be just oil leaking onto the manifold. Could be a coolant leak from the heater core. Just hard to tell something like that. But he did say that the rattle was definitely one of the pulleys.

As far as your comment of the exterior condition shedding some light on the interior condition, IMO, is right on the mark. It'* a testament of the care and maintenance the person did or, likely in this case, didn't do. I would be highly cautious of this car. Personally, I'd let 'er sit there.

For that money I'd already own the thing.

Y'know, if I was single, I might be more inclined to, as it could be viewed as an investment for that money.