Looking for advice. Want to build a Duster to run on a budget.

That's the whole reason I don't go to car shows. When I first got my car I had got the slant running for the first time in 40 YEARS and I took it to a car show after working on it for months getting around the shipping delays around that time.(I was 16) The only people that thought it was cool were a group of 13 year olds. All the old guys with cars restored in the 90s did whas pick it apart and say **** like "you need to paint it." "It has a lot of rust, why did you get this one". EVERY CAR SHOW. So I stopped taking it to car shows and just cruised it around town. Don't get me started on car clubs.
it's been like that as far back as i can remember. all the old heads shitting on the young guys: oh that's not stock! why'd you paint it that color? what's wrong with bias ply tires and drum brakes, i've been driving on them since dickety-doo and they're just fine! etx etx etx

march to the beat of your own drum and you'll find like minded people that dig the same rhythm; along the way you'll learn to tune out the clowns with kazoos.