What happened to the reasonably priced project car?

People usually buy projects because the can't afford a "done" car, that is paying it out all at once. A little over 10 years , they can handle. People get into A bodies because they can't afford a B body. Most will admit to that.
Buying four door Dart is fine if that will make the guy happy, otherwise why?
Example: F bodies? Volare Roadrunner? Took me 8 months to sell a drive any where all body/paint work done, new tires, radiator, carb, etc for $3900. Cool what I call driver quality car. No it is not a typical rusted out rust belt salt road car, yes, a Texas car. But if a guy doe not want an F body, then it is not a good idea.