Greeting peeps, I thought it worth throwing this out for your combined wisdom:
after some looking around for some time, this 79 2 door has popped up. I've only seen these photos, plus a few more. It has had a front hit, which looks to me that has creased the drivers side engine bay guards. I was after something to learn some skills on, and a 2 door, 2 litre would be my dream model. So my question to the brainstrust is do you think this one is too far gone, or maybe I should ask, what do you thinks a fair price. They are asking $1,800, and I'm told the engine runs. From what I can figure out, at a minimum it probably needs new sills, valance, slam panel, misc front panels, possibly wheel archs, and the firewalls looks pretty unique. Plus of course, all the trim, interior etc. The inner guard damage is most likely beyond my current skillset, and is probably giving me the biggest doubts. I'm game for most of the rest.  So, waste of time/money, seen something better or does this seem reasonable?
Thanks for your words of wisdom or otherwise!

I'd be wanting it for cheaper than that
 
Comes down to how much you want to spend really, seen bodyshells lately for around 2-3k with no damage but needing resprays
 
Everything that car needs panel wise is available to buy, SMCKA can source them all for you but not being able to do it yourself the costs on just fixing the front might blow the project budget out
 
Saying this though there are a lot of parts still on it so i'd say if you got that for under 1k then it would be worth it IMO

A mate of mine got me onto a bloke who had a running MK2 2 door sitting in his yard. When I saw the guy he was happy to sell and wanted over $1,000 (can't quite remember the exact amount) When I actually saw the car it had nothing but rust in it. It had no floors and half the fire wall was rusted out and the rest of the body wasn't much better. I tried to knock him down but wouldn't budge. 

Too me yours doesn't look too bad, not something I would spend $1,800 on though. As tickrx said you should try and get it for under 1K. 

thanks Tichesky and Eskie, so that's 2 'maybe nots' so far.
I reckon $1k is all that is worth as well, my problem is that someone who new I was after a 2 door has found this one for me, so he would be buying it and selling it on. He has to make something it which is fine, but that's when the figure of $1800 comes up and there's probably not much budge room. There's a 4 door auto just listed on gumtree that's around the same figure, and it's chalk and cheese.
Hmmm......

That front dent isn't too serious. .i reckon with a chunk of chain and a tree with some reversing it could mostly come out.
I'm currently doing a mk2 van which was snotted in the same place as that one. .. If not worse, Once the front panel was pulled off and one side rad panel , the inner wing could be easily beat back to its old shape , a new rad panel and front panel later and no-one would know.
All this depends on your skills etc but if it's a project , You will learn new skills in doing a car that's got some damage and rust.. grinding ,cutting , welding ,prep work and if you feel good , painting it.
As for price I'd say $1200 tops, only cause its a damaged complete runner .
Here's some pics of my work so far ..
Good luck on (maybe) your new project !!

The car looks do-able for sure, the one I'd be concerned about is this bloke trying to make a few bucks on you. Spotters fees are generally paid for rare or high end cars. If he can't help you for the sake of helping you, keep looking. It peeves me when I see cars advertised only to see them come up again a week later at a higher price, like I'm paying you for the privilege of seeing it in your driveway, get real...
I'm trying not to be a downer, lol, good luck with the searching Drew...

I just paid about the same for the same minus the front dent. Fact is repair panels are cheap and 2 doors are getting hard to find. complete car like that you may as well buy it and start the project. My newest one has tin worm to c pillar and boot surrounds but all fixable. As long as walk in rego then go for it. You won't regret it, prices in SA are on the way up even on 4 doors,

 
If the car is your dream model then why quibble about a few hundred dollars??
 
A complete car intact (not in parts or boxes) is a wonderful starting point.
The few hundred dollars extra now will fade into insignificance later on when you start to pay thousands for new parts, labour, paint etc.
....only my 2 bobs worth though.

Thanks Drew, no downer at all. Better to get real responses than buy and utter basketcase that's just a moneypit.
I don't have an issue paying for someones time, I'm just struggling to justify the value at $1800.If it was a mate, or even someone in the forum, you might get away with a 'heads up' and a slab or 2 trading favours as a spotters fee, but with a complete stranger its understandable if it works for both. Peter you are right also, and I could end up kicking myself. The car is complete, but looking at it more closely, all most of the bits that make it complete are pretty farnarcled and would be replaced anyhow.
Cram I just sent you a PM, before reading your response  here.
Thanks for the views guys, still open to ideas and will stew on it for a while.
 

I have a MK2 RS Rolling shell for around that money, im better condition as far a rust goes.
Needs slam panel, 2 front guards, drivers side inner guard, bonnet and nose cone. (front end crash)
Can include all interior except seats, depending on $$$.
No engine or gearbox.
Only rust is a little around the rear side windows (10c size piece) Very minor rust at boot corners. I have had the sills replaced (rusted from the top near the door rubbers) and passenger side rear wheel arch. Minor floor rust (it been a while since I looked at that) and heater dome is also very good considering.
I crashed it about 18 years ago and even then, it was 2 good to scrap, but not quite worth paying someone to repair. With the prices they are fetching now, it is now worth fixing but I have 2 other unfinished projects so it has just sat there.
Located North West VIC.
Only looking at selling to fund my other 2 RS projects.
 
If interested, Ph 0409856339.
Thanks, David