As a guy who drives a '53 Buick with a 263 straight-8, I can say that aside from looking and sounding cool, you'll be bucks ahead with a more common engine. Parts for the Buick are not HARD to find, but not super easy either, and fuel mileage is nothing to cheer about. And my Buick is SLOW, although the Dynaflow might have something to do with that.
On the other hand, it's almost worth it for the sound alone. Nothing burbles like a straight-8 Buick.
