What would be the perfect fixer upper classic car on a budget?

I own a 72 Beetle back from high school. It's been sitting in my grandparents' barn for the last decade. I finally have my first house and I'm planning on shipping it out here (IN to CT) to restore. Shipping the beetle will cost ~$500, When I parked it it was probably worth about $750 (if I'm generous) It would probably be cheaper to buy another beetle out here... which got me thinking I doubt I will ditch the Beetle for some other car but what restorable classic could I get for $1000 or less... (doesn't have to run but at least has an engine, minimal rust and rot)

Luckly I don't live in Texas or I do something stupid like buy this on ebay
# 300387411698 1967 AMC Rogue (current bit <$500 buy it for $1500)

So what would be a good car to tinker with on a budget?
(in other words this isn't about cars that go for $50,000 or more when restored)

 

Oh and a warning a friend of mine once bought an old datsun Z car on ebay because hey "$300 bid how can I go wrong" I think he finally sold it to a scrap yard for the metal. there wasn't anything on it even good enough to part out.

 

You're going to have a difficult time finding an old, cheap, rustfree fixer upper in the northeast....anything cheap with minimal rust and rot is going to come from the southwest so you'll incur shipping charges no matter what you buy.

If you know what you have with your old beetle, I think you'd be better off with it. Bring it home, and bring it back to life.....

Parts are easily available (notice I didn't say cheap) and it's one of the easiest cars to work on, with plenty of support available thru the interwebs. Plus, if you do a good job on it, there's a ready market of buyers for when you want to sell it.

 

I was just curious what people thought would be fun cheap project cars.

For example, I know a guy who claims to hate scooter but restores Vespas as a hobby because he doesn't have the money or space to restore cars.

I do push people who think they want to restore a car towards beetles. There's tons of enthusiast support. You can do anything with them (restore, Rod, lowrider, offroad...) And parts are plentiful and cheap.

To get the ball rolling I also recommend:

old wranglers

 

I think shipping your beetle and fixing it up is the way to go.
Fantastic cars, you can get parts, etc etc, and you know
what you have already.

 

Vw all the way =)

 

I agree with the majority. Ship the Bug. My ex-wife had a 1970 Bug when we got married - way back in '73 and I loved that car!

Does the '72 still have a carb or was that fuel injected?

 

72 was still carb and pre emission controls.
The stock 1600 engine made it pretty fun around town. It's what sold me on my mini. There's nothing like a small light car.

 

It also had "Computer" diagnostics

(I so want that computer)

I wish BMW Mini thought like this