I hear ya. But I finally realized my coupe was not worth doing either. When these cars start fetching $100k I will take another look as it does have a VIN tag.

I think your time would be better spent with a car body worth restoring. Use the parts with this car and a better donor car would be more practical.

You have the energy and the know-how, just need to better focus it.

Earlybird convinced me a few years ago that it's not worth you time to just throw time and money at a project. It's has to have some basis to get a return on your investment. The $$'s you spend at the beginning is the least you spend when it should be the most. Get the best car, type and condition you can and it should be less $$'s and time to restore and have a better return on your money.

I'm advocating that these projects will actually make money, I just hope to "get my money back" when I sell it in the future.

If I spent $200k on my coupe it would still be only worth $25k.
If I spent $50k on my vert I hope to most of it back within 5 years.

I 'm doing it for the challenge and the enjoyment and in the end hopefully have something left for the wife when I take the big nap!