That's the thing I have restored loads of Mk1's 2's Firenzas min etc and lots of MK3 vans many years ago. I also used to build 2ltr Chevettes just to break away from the lads as they were all Mk2s at the time and I wanted to be different.
I now live in the South west and do not have the network of friends to fall back on now, who I can turn to or help out when it comes to something like welding where I don't know what I am doing.
That and the passage of time is knocking my confidence since I did anything like this (midlife crisis). I can not afford MK1's any more Mk3s are starting to get silly now too so trying to get my foot in the door while I still can then this time hold on to it.