It was in really really bad shape, even though he had just bought a new manifold and valve covers and hoses. Rest of engine and the body, and especially the brakes needed too much work to be any use in fixing up.
He found somebody who wanted his car, sold it to them, and with the $1500 he got for it, he used $400 to buy then fury for only $400
Great deal, too, because he got it after only 1 previous owner (original purchase) and almost no mileage on it. But it was in storage for so long that the thing needed MAJOR overhauls on everything (over 40 years) so while it began to finally run after he owned it for about 4 months, he decided to sell it to buy his dream car, a 1978 Trans Am.
And the fucking Trans Am doesn't look in nearly as good condition or run nearly as well as the Fury. Stupid move, if you ask me.