Remember, I don't have the funds to travel everywhere looking at cars, but I've widened my search area. I can't believe the amount of project cars on the FB market place even with going out 200 miles from where I live. I'm on it though.
you're really hamstringing yourself by not increasing your search radius. there's plenty of cars out there, and there's more, better cars for cheaper outside of missouri.
when i'm helping clients chase down cars i tell them that a 500mi radius is the minimum.