This is a 1983 DL 4 door sedan, not a turbo, 120k miles, automatic transmission. The seller bought it for $100 at an auction. DMV fees are 1 year overdue (about $100 or so). The seller told me that it leaks oil; indeed there was no oil in the dipstick. The transmission also leaks. I saw no fluid in that dipstick either. What bothered me was that I saw red fluid dripping (1 drop every 30 seconds) form the space between the engine and the transmission.

The passenger/right rack and pinion boot is loose on the inside side, ie it looks like the little twisty wrapper/plastic clips. Am I cheating if I just tighten that up with a clip?

Thus far, everything else appears minor. Title is clear. No body damage. Only rust are two small spots on the hood (road rocks?).

Here are my questions:

If I buy the car, I'm gonna have it towed the 35 miles to my house. What's the proper way to have the tow truck tow an automatic transmission?

What is the cause(s) of the leaks? Front transmission seal(s) and rear oil seal(s)? How hard is it to remove the transmission and replace those seals? What would I have to remove?

Oops, the most important question is price. The car's in the San Francisco East Bay Area (near Emeryville). What's a price that wouldn't give me buyer's remorse.

Thanks in advance.