I just purchases a 1972 454 Coupe sight unseen. I relied on recent digital pictures and lots of dialouge/trust with full knowlege that  the car needed a full restoration.

 you still did ok,,the birdcage around the windshield may or may not need replacing,it may be just surface rust and a good epoxy sealer and rust inhibitor make take care of the problem, if it has to be replaced the  part is about 500 bucks and a good welder can tack it in for you.As for the door, thats a good question, maybe the hinges are broken or the latch is seized up, either way it doesnt seem to me that it would be too expensive,,paint can run you as much as you want to spend,,but half the fun of owning a c3 is fixing it up,,you did ok,,rd

I'm no expert, but do have one thought for you.  You'll no doubt get some good advice here, as this is a great forum - many very qualified C3 experts.  However, for this specific question, I'd also post it at the NCRS technical discussion board.  Their hole existence revolves around major restorations, and two things commonly discussed over there are:
1) The value of this car and is this project going to be worth the money
2) The "birdcage" repair that your car requires.
You seem to need advise in both areas.
The good news is the car needs new paint anyway.  If the car had great paint, it makes the decision much harder, as you have to do some destruction to get all the rusted area out.  For that reason and the fact that it is a big block, chrome bumpered Vette, I suspect you'll get answers that it is still worth the $$.  But maybe only if it truly is an original big block car with #s matching engine. (Supposedly there are lots of phonies out there from the 67 - 72 range.)
Good luck!

just from my own experience i think you will probably find a few more rust problems when taking everything apart.. since your birdgage/windshield frame seems to have rustproblems you should take a look on the inside just inside the of the doorpillar where body mount 3 and 4 are .. big chance rust has eaten some metal away..........but.. everything can be repaired.. :)   ( the windshield frame is famous for rustproblems .. maybe you need to put here an d there some new metal in it..in worse case you have to get a "new " windshieldframe)

That brings back memories. When I first got my 72 the passenger door wouldn't open either. Since I was replacing the interior, I ripped off the door panel and then used a lot of WD40 on all of the parts, under the outside door handle, the parts inside, etc, and after moving all of them around a bit, got it to open. It was just full of old crud and frozen shut, but works fine now. I am replacing the locking arms on both sides because they're in pretty bad shape.

I think you still got a good deal on your vette. Mine doesn't have the engine yours does, and that makes a difference in value. Mine has value because it's a convertible 4 speed with factory air.

You probably will have to remove pannel. If the door linkage is frozen a good lube job and some time should do the trick. You need to see if its the latch or the hinges that are frozen. Don't worry you'll get it. I think you have a fun project on your hands. I wish I could run into something like that.  Good luck, and welcome to the site. Terry

As a former locksmith, it is highly unlikely that the lock itself is rusted, corroded maybe, but not rusted.  PB Blaster will help you a great deal.

To make life easier on yourself, pull the passenger seat, then pull the door panel.  If you don't already know, you will have a keeper key on the window roller (if not electric windows).  The hinges might well be frozen however, more PB Blaster will certainly loosen things up. 

Terry and the others are correct, time and patience will help this work out.  It helps if you can do most of the work yourself.  The cost will be much less if you can do the work.

As for the price, I thought I got screwed as well, but the more I do to fix her up, the more I realize I wanted a vette and any but a new one would constitute some investment and work. 

I have attempted stuff I never thought I would and have been largely successful.  Remember, first and foremost, she is a 35 year old used car. 

If you do have a #'s match, you have a deal on your hands.  Don't panic and keep at it!

The good is just that - good.

Thank you ALL for your help.