I'm sure other people who have done a project will chime in as well. But, you can get sucked in pretty deep if you're not careful. Cars that look "pretty good" on the outside can be hiding a lot of problems under the paint. You'll need to be prepared to do most of the work yourself if you want to stay within budget. Pay for a quality paint job, that's not for beginners. The last thing you want to find out is that you're in over your head, and you need to pay someone to do all the expensive body work. If you have the skill capabilities and are willing to learn, then go for it. Figure how long you think it may take you, then double or triple it. Same goes for the budget. On the other hand....in this market, $30k will get you a darn nice 1st gen. Read up or ask on what to look for, if you do go shopping for a car. Spend a lot of time looking under, over, and inside the car. And a weak magnet can be a good friend to bring along to check for body filler/missing metal hiding under the paint.

 

Good tip. Thanks. That was kind of what I was thinking - pay a bit more for one that is closer to being finished.