to make this long winded nonsense, even more long windeded.... here's a quick tale. a few months ago when DTM was on about his "i don't like the headliner on that perfectly fine car and my wife doesn't like me spending money on green cars" bullshittery, i posted up a link to a 71 dart 2dr.
it was a bread and butter 318 2V, 904, PS/PB/AC bench, vinyl top. top had been redone, it was a gross pukey green/gold that only a mother could love, had a repaint as some point but was professionally done and still very decent. interior presented nice, it needed a dash pad and a carpet (purple haze!). naturally it needed dumb easy stuff like tail light lenses and one of the bumpers could use a rechrome. but other than that a solid rust free car.
most importantly, it ticked all the boxes. dan's gripe? it was too far away and days off work, a flight and a hotel stay(s) and gas to get it back was all too expensive.
now, here's the turn of the worm. i was BS'ing with a client and he mentioned he was casually looking for an a-body just to have something fun. he's not particularly choosy, but solid body, decent paint and interior is his jam. boy howdy do i have something for you! we hammered out the details, i flew up to SF area inspected the car and made the deal then drove it back to LA. i put a tune up on it, did a safety and fixed a few minor details while getting it road trip ready, knocked a new set of tires on it. client flew into LA, picked up the car and drove it back to his place in Illinois.
he'll be cruising this all summer, and get this, the all in on it-- from purchase price, my part in it, to his expense of travel there and back-- was still less than 20K
the stuff is out there. it just takes a little imagination, some work and a little hustle.