Restore vs Remodel

I am beginning to line out thoughts about how to proceed on my upcoming project and need advice. The economy still stinks; I am getting tired of watching my car rust in the yard; it needs some severe help that I lack the knowhow to do.

Do I treck the country looking for used or NOS parts that are few and far between?
Do I enlist local machinists to craft one-off productions for an arm and a leg?
Do I use a piece of automotive history as a guinea pig in my learning a new art?
At what point in customizing will I be black listed and not spoken to anymore?
Author: OldGold