Now I just have to talk the wife into it.

Man coyote jack this is dilemma for sure. As you were upfront with her, which is the right choice for sure, you cant fo witj the easier to ask for forgiveness than permission approach. Which of course has its pros and cons. Much like the uphill battle of the honesty approach. Since you mentioned the downsizing you said you were both looking at, is there anything you can give up or eliminate as a show of effort towards that and then maybe slip in that getting your car from your youth back would be a great give and take compromise? Lol, or get an offsite storage unit or buddies shop to keep it at until it's a runner? Which I guess is a delayed version of forgiveness over permission approach. Anyway, good luck. A gassed is a very cool project.