Best of luck with your searches. I had a similar plan to yourself when i started out searching for my 67 Fastback, theres not alot of them around for sale here. In the end i bought something i could look at myself in the flesh local and ended up with a 67 GTA S CODE which I am now modifying into the car I want, I can vouch for what others would say in that this is an expensive way to do it- Trying to find a cheap, rust free project shell was mission impossible for me after 12 months so unfortunately thats how im going about it. Atleast i will know how the car has been built. I'm not sure how achievable your improvements budget is, depends on how full on you go about it I suppose, but i would allow double what you initially had in mind
Thanks mate appreciate the advice, yeah so far I'm finding it pretty difficult to track down a quality car and your definitely right about the budget.
I'll probably have to reassess this and maybe just try and get hold of a car for now, save up some extra dosh and then go about modifying it to suit.
The car on one of the links above from pitmanclassics looks good (will ring them and ask for the selling price) however its running a 390 big block with a 4 speed toploader were i would much prefer an auto and going to a 302 or 351 small block. I'm assuming that i would need an adapter/conversion kit to mount a small block were a big block live (can anybody point me in the right direction and if this is even possible)??? I see you get 302's or 351's from fordcobraengines in the US with an AOD transmission which could be a way to go in the long run.
People may find swapping the engine and gearbox out may detract from the car, but unfortunately with having physical problems with my clutch leg and presuming the clutch may be heavy it looks like auto would be the only way to go.
At this point i think i may concentrate on trying to get hold of a decent, straight body rust free car and work on customizing it long term.
Thanks for everybody who has replied so far, the more information and differing views i can get the better! :)
Cheers