Look this link, it is the 6 Porsche same toy manufacturer but it says announced at less than £ 150.
https://www.porscheroadandrace.com/porsche-911-flat-six-boxer-engine/

For a few hundred more you could have a full size Ford engine

For £450 I'd be after 12 mths MOT

My first car a Singer Chamois (Imp with badges rusted like a bugger) cost £350 with new MOT...

Bought my current Corsa a couple of years ago - it wasn't much more and with full ticket

Since a few years I‘m in worries with my VESPA VLB1M engine....

I‘ve got a lot of experience, but I struggle... may be that‘s interesting stuff.

Build up a real engine and get money.

On the other way HONDA flat onecylinders (MONKEYs, DAXs and clones) are cheap. Do and undo for small money.

Something like this: https://www.monkeypower.de/epages/61916048.sf/de_DE/?ObjectPath=/Shops/61916048/Categories/%22Zubehör/Ersatzteile%22/%22Motoren_Vergaser%20Luftfilter%20Zylinder%20Dichtungsätze%22/Komplettmotoren

René

Yes, but SWMBO wouldn't let me play with it in the dining room and winter is coming.

I have purchased several things from China, usually from Aliexpress or Alibaba, but also from others including Amazon. Sometimes delivery times are very slow because ordinary mail is often used, which from China costs next to nothing. The only problems I have ever had were: 1. a replacement drone camera that was faulty, a new one was sent and I posted back the original which was repaired and returned to me so I finished up with 2 cameras and the only additional cost was the return postage on one. 2. a multimeter that was obviously new old stock and had corroded batteries in it and slightly damaged contacts. In the second case I got a full refund from Aliexpress after sending photos and they did not want the multimeter returned. In the end I cleaned the contacts and replaced the batteries. It now works fine.

All in all I have no fear of dealing with Chinese suppliers though I am very careful to avoid sites that could be fraudulent. I am very cautious about giving card details and if it is not a known site I create a limited virtual credit card via my home banking. I limit it to one transaction at a figure slightly higher than the quoted price because the actual charge is often not in the currency quoted so you need to allow for exchange differences.

Well something arrived today, a month later than originally promised and an absolute pile of rubbish. Just a small pack go fake lego! Paypal are on the case - not expecting much success there either but at the moment I've got quite a bit of free time on my hands!!!!