Do you think this Mk2 is cactus?

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!

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. 

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 !!

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,

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.
 

Text sent David.
The Green 4 door on Gumtree looks more damaged than first appearances suggest.
 

an update if anyones interested.. I've grown attached to my kidneys and right arm, so it's likely a coupe isn't going to happen. What little is around is seems to be either just a door handle and bootlid masquerading as a complete car, or just totally shagged beyond my limited abilities and budget.
 
I might have come across an ex 2lt 4 door, missing only the engine, and seats. It sort of suits me, as I can have plenty of time to find an engine while buggering the body up further.
 
So since the forum is pretty quiet at the moment, some dumb questions I'd value your comments on:
-Since its got no engine anyhow, time to go zetec or 2ltr (its a manual shell)? For the guys who have done zetec, do you have your cars registered/insured that way as such and was it an effort to get approval?
- My idea was to recreate a rallye pack , bonus is it has the rubber bootlid spoiler (except now it will be 4 door version). A big part of the appeal of what I'd hope to get back was that typical 2 litre rally sound (bwaar? How do you type the sound:)) Anyhow, would that traditional throaty sound be lost if the engine was changed to the zetec?.
 

This came last night. !!
After advice on the difficulty for 2 door parts, plus looking at how cool Misha's and other 4 doors on here have turned out, I went for this 78 2 litre which was on gumtree, a basic straight car to start with for a reasonable price. The aim is to recreate a rally pack, over the next few years. I haven't had much time to go over it yet,pissing down with rain last night,  but it is basically missing the engine. It came with 2 radiators, extractors, alternators, air filter, electronic ignition,spare seat, 4 speed gearbox and a box of new gaskets so far. So on the wish list is bumperettes, minilights and the rubber rally pack front spoiler ( which I cant find the right one sofar new). The body looks like someone has done the heater cowl, and I expect to at least replace the rear arch. Floors and subframe looked ok and unlike a few Ive checked recently, hasn't been crunched.  Battery has been relocated to the boot and it has my must have go faster rubber spoiler. I stuck an old  minilight against it just for looks, and its tuffer already :) 
If anyones upgrading their pinto later on or knows of a rebuildable block.
The original fusebox looks like it has been bypassed, but I haven't followed the loom yet to see where a replacement might be.
Finally, every issues there's a white 2 door ad for a supplier in Classic Ford magazine that just gets me everytime,being a 2 door, it has grp4 arches, and what look like deepdish 13" minilights with good profile old school rubber. So dumb question, but I'm assuming there's no arch extensions available for a 4 door?
 
I forgot how small these cars actually are, even compared to the Capri.