Bought my '62 Sub sight-unseen, and drove it 1000 miles home. And it wasn't restored, either--all original.
New tires, new fluids. New plugs, wires, thermostat.
No problems. Then, during the next year and a half, and 20,000 miles, the wiring died (I'm amazed it lasted that long...by the time it was done, if I had the headlights on and turned off the ignition, the engine would still run, until I turned off the headlights!) Also replaced the radiator (you shouldn't have a problem there, since it'll be cool), water pump and completely rebuild the entire brake system.
Your wires are 50 years old--the insulation will be brittle, and if it's like mine was, there might be a whole lot of "That'll Do It' fixes from previous owners. Look over all of it.
Bring a multi-meter and some spare lengths of wire for on-the-road fixes. Had to do one myself going to NCarolina before I rewired the truck.
Inspect every wheel cylinder for the least little sign of fluid weeping. Check the rubber hoses to make sure none of them are cracked or dry rotted. Pull your master cylinder off the firewall to inspect the seal at the back of the bore. Check your steel lines to make sure none of them are cracked or weeping. I've had a bad experience with a single-pot master system, and was uncomfortable the whole 20--- I put on my truck (Got it replaced now!
)
Other than that, go for it and enjoy the drive!
-Brad
(ps: my Sub had the original tired 283, 4spd granny and steep gears. Tall tires helped keep rpm down. Upgraded at some point with HEI)
