@02MANYBIMMERS & @MatthewCervi & @jgerock
Many thanks for your input. Perhaps this is not the one for me given your counsel. I do really appreciate the benefit of your experience.
In terms of some of the questions 02MANYBIMMERS posed...
My budget is flexible within reason and I am not one to be penny wise and pound foolish. I would definitely prefer to start with a better car that needs less. I am handy and willing to put in work. But, I am more interested in doing so to upgrade and tinker over time as I learn more the ins and outs, than in starting with a project that isn't reasonably reliable or has major needs. I don't do bodywork but am willing to lean in a limited capacity.
I've got a nice detached garage to store and work in, and am in process of repainting and upgrading lighting to make it a better "home" for the car and a better workspace for me.
In terms of originality, I love the character of these cars, but originality isn't my true north.
I'd like a 5-speed. LSD would be a bonus but not in any way a "must have." A/C would be nice given the mid-atlantic summers, but know that is scarce (that's a great example of a project I might take on over time once I have the right car). I am also open to a non-tii. Am actually pretty intrigued by the modified M42 powered '72 currently on BAT.
On to colors, I like the the classic '70s palette. Favorites are orange (Inka then Colorado), Chamonix, brown (esp. Dunkelbraun), the blue family (Baikal, Riviera and Atlantic) and then also red (Verona) and dark gray (Anthrazitgrau). All that said, color is secondary for me to condition and fun factor (hence the interest in the BAT car).
Thanks so much (yet again) for your thoughts here.