Minimal viable product, a la. U. of Houston. Esthetics are on the exoskeleton.
Still cool looking, especially after first seeing it after the Boom Boom Room in 2012. (Age shown.)
It is a lateral move, IMO (outside of $$ - he can name his price), but he prob. has been studying the engine design and feels more comfortable in F.
(And good for your "fmr" friend, that is a hell of a windfall and a once in a billion lifetime to achieve.)