Can you build a whole car from aftermarket repop parts?

I remember checking prices on a crate 5.7 Hemi in 2003 when they came out and figured it would be less expensive to just buy a stripper new 2wd 5.7 Ram for $15,000 after rebates, take the motor, and sell off all the parts as new takeoffs. Probably would have ended up with almost a free motor.