Should I buy a recent restoration with no docs?

I am looking into a 69 Chevelle SS tribute car that is for sale locally. Car seems clean and the current owner is claiming that it had a frame off restoration within the last 4 years,  but he bought it from someone out of state so he has zero info on the build/restoration other than what can be seen with the naked eye. To me having a a recent frame off restoration but no docs throws up a red flag, but I am fairly new to the market so wanted to double check with those that may have more knowledge. It is obviously not a numbers matching car or rare car, so detailed documentation is not going to effect it's value, but nothing on a recent restoration seems troubling. Should I be worried or is not having info on recent builds common if it isn't rare?

Price will determine if it's worth it or not.  I would just approach it like any other used car purchase - look for problems and adjust offer accordingly

Beat me to it, price really determines your decision. A lack of documentation really helps the buyer, not the seller. If the price is the same as a documented car, you can use this to pressure them to lower the price. But if the price is already below market and you can confirm that it appears to be correct, you may end up with a bargain. It is pretty easy to tell if this car has had a frame off restoration or not,  have a third party do an inspection if you are not sure.

Can you speak with the builder?

Thanks for the input. I was already planning on having an inspection done if I decided to go forward, but in my search for a car, multiple inspections can add up quickly if things fall through. It is roughly a $30k car so I don't think no receipts, photos, details,  etc is necessarily a deal breaker, just throws up a flag that they might be trying to hide something such as flood car, non documented salvage, etc. It could also just be my paranoia. If i did a frame off restoration i would have a binder full of everything, but that could just be me and my attention to detail.

In reply to 914Driver:

No info on who the builder is according to current owner. 

If he only bought it 4 years ago, then he should know the name of the previous owner. Then the PO should be able to let you know who did the FO restoration.

No info is fishy and you are talking $30K USD here. The owner should do some digging for that kind of dough.

You don't have your location in your profile, but in upstate New York, crawl under it; if it doesn't collapse you did good!

Seriously, if it looks good for the money and you're OK with the car, then just buy it.  If you are not comfortable, run.  No, really, it's like a stalker ex-girlfriend.  Cut bait!

Dan

Years ago I remember seeing a chevelle someone has bought in a situation like that, it looked nice but was covered in filler that was 3/4 inch thick in some places right over rusty panels.

If you aren’t comfortable doing the inspection yourself get a chevelle guy to do.  Get one of those magnetic filler gauges.  

My chevelle looked good at first.  New quarters, solid frame and floors, etc.  I figured it would be a quick fix around windows from vinyl top and scuff/shoot the rest.  Once i started sanding I found the roof and doors made of bondo.  Granted it was a $6500 running driving chevelle, but i’d rather have paid triple for a car that didn’t need a bunch of replacement panels.  

Where are you located?  

In reply to Patrick :

There are some auto body techs out there who really missed their calling as a sculptor.