I'd have to say this ended up about where I thought it would. I agree the guy seems to be too knowledgeable about it all to unload a Hemi shell for $2k. I also agree it may be a smokescreen. You are in an area that will not take too kindly to a stranger poking around looking to score an old car, even if you say your looking for a project for yourself and you tell them you have a classic. Anyone can tell a story and its too easy to fake it, so unless you roll up in your Challenger, to them your just another outsider trying to score. You might have an easier time trying to ask out their daughters than scoring their cars.
BTW, sorry to hear about loosing the job. That sucks, but if they are that willing to kick you to the curb, you probably wouldn't have wanted to work there too long anyway.