I realize that because of inflation now, if you could buy a brand new one it wouldn't be $3k. But, even it if had a full body off restoration, $8k is way way over priced. I think your looking at more around $3k, and even that's kind of on the high end. What do you plan to do with it?, cut grass? I can tell you right now for the past 8 years I have cut with a 1972' IH Cub, not a 154 but it has the same engine , and it's not worth the trouble. I has a 5 ft Woods belly mower on it and yeah it will cut the grass if you keep the blades sharp, the deck clear, and the engine isn't having any problems. But it is a very slow going job to cut with. Takes me 8 hrs to cut 7 acres of flat field in 2nd gear with the throttle pegged. You can only go so fast with it as they don't have much horsepower. Mine is only 11, probably worn down to about 6 or 7 by now. The 154's were only 14 hp so it's still not much. Most only had 3 speed transmissions, but you can cut in 2 most of the time if everything on the deck is maintained. If the grass your cutting off is more than 6 inches, then you can either for get it or you'll have to cut in 1st, which is highly slow. Unless you can find one that has the 2 range transmission, to split the 3 gears, you might be able to cut slightly faster, but even then it's not worth it. You can find a much higher hp tractor with some kind of mower that's newer for $8k. Cub's were great in there hay day, but this is 2008 where ZTR's could best the Cub by half. Just my advice,if you wanna spend $8k, look else where else.