Free car, FMV, or buy?

I've never been to the challenge, but I've followed it for years, and I've always wanted to do it.  I know of a 1973 VW standard beetle that has been sitting for 15+ years. It hasn't been run, it is missing parts, the fenders bumpers and other parts are all taken off, and may be included or lost. It say outside for a long time so I do not know the status of the pans, or other rust areas.  Although it did run 15+ years ago via a gas can sitting on the roof rigged up to the carb (I was working on it so I know).  I don't have any pictures but I can probably get some. I know it is slow and probably not the best candidate for the challenge, but I want to make it into a Class 11 VW. Getting  to do it for the challenge would be a bonus. I know the seller and while I think they may give it to me for free that's where my question comes in. 

Does a free vehicle have to be offered up to anyone for free?  Or does a free vehicle have to be obtained and then assessed on here for a FMV?

Which leads me too if I know the seller and negotiate a deal is that the better way to handle the purchase for challenge rules? I can't imagine they would want me to pay much for it, but I want to be honest, and not look like I'm trying to sneak around the rules.  I ask  because when I look at non running VW bugs around me on FB marketplace they are all over the place, $200 to $3000

for it to be "challenge $free", it has to be available to anyone at that price, whether advertised or not doesn't really matter. 

I would offer $100 and get a receipt.   I can't guarantee that you wont get protested, but $100 for a rusty, incomplete, not running for at least 15 years VW beetle is by no means a crazy deal.    Especially if you are leaving a basically stock AC motor in it.  I would love to see it, see you build it for $2000 and go on to do some actual class 11 racing with it.  

Remember..  this is a fun editorial exercise.  A class 11 legal $2000 car is a good story.  

Now i am assuming this is a beetle that is most likely to wind up in the junkyard.   Not a $5000 beetle that just hasn't been ran for 15 years.  

I might offer more than $100 just to be safe. But it was never a $5k bug, everything was kind of done on the side for many years. It was repainted at one point, but then it had a fire near it (not the bug itself) that burned up the driver side rear quarter and fender, so they are a different color than the rest of the bug. 
 

Class 11 does require a standard air cooled 1600cc engine. You can cut and turn the front beam to get more height in the front, and reindex or cut and reindex the rear torsion bars. I don't think their are shock restraints but they have to use the stock shock locations. I've seen class 11s with Fox remote reservoir shocks. The issue with it being a true class 11 would be the cage build, and the cage requirements for SNORE or SCORE. 

I couldn't value an inside deal at $100 when that's below the junkyard value on the vehicle.  I suggest you get it for what ever and then value it at junkyard value (using the highest value of three local yards) or the price you paid, whichever is higher.  I'd rather have it at a higher value rather than it appear I'm trying to pull one over.  Oh and turbo Subaru swap it.

Thanks Stampie. I didn't know about the junkyard rule. I'll see what they say. I'll try to get some pics too. 

In reply to octavious :

Not a junkyard rule exactly but in my opinion these rules apply in this case:

Any inside deals—parts, whole cars, trades, donations, stolen parts, etc.—must be added to the budget at fair market value.

 

 

All fair market values used must be proved in your build book with supporting documentation. Ways to prove fair market value include:

• Copies of corporate listings of similar items for sale.

• Copies of at least three comparable listings from a peer-to-peer selling website (eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, etc.)

• A copy of a GRM message board thread where at least 5 users with more than 50 posts have agreed with a proposed fair market value for your item.

Semi on topic I don't think stolen parts are inside deals.  Pretty sure the victim isn't agreeing to the deal if they knew you are stealing from them.