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

I have seen guys that takes decades, not years to get a car on the road or restored to some degree. So I had this motto, pop on my heard one day, many years ago, as I prompted myself to work at the task every chance I had. "Get it done, it may not be perfect. but do it best I can and what make sense". Well, there is a definite line between acceptable for most and boogered up, completely, but a car belongs to the owner, but like said, it can be a disservice if you sell it top anyone!

But a guy can go to buy a car done by the owner, in his gargae, no booth, lets say body/paint. The buyer complains because the topcoat has some "dirt"in it. not perfect, then he bitches because the seller did not spend 20 hours wet sanding and buffing a $5000 car!
I mostly agree with what you said but only a disservice to sell to someone without telling what you know about the car. I bought 6 Commando cars at a very good price with failed bondo repairs . They are probably the best bargain out there.

My car isn't for sale but if it were it would be a good bargain for someone that didn't want to spend a lot . And just like it wouldn't be practical to spend 20 hours buffing a 5000 dollar car it would not always be practical to put thousands of dollars of metal and time into a lower value car in the marketplace .