Rich, welcome to CHR! Sounds like you in the right age group for dreaming about hotrods and roadsters. A lot of that going around these days. One nice thing about this site, is that there are several people here who have or are currently building roadsters or roadster pickups. A lot of great information is available to you within those threads if you are so inclined to build from the frame up.

The rod market has been depressed for a couple of years, just like the housing market has become in the last 12 months. It is a buyers market. There are a lot of very nice 32 roadsters available from about $30k and up Model A roadsters can be had for a little less. To get a glass one built by a builder will run about $35k and up, for a steel one you'd have to add at least another $10k to that. Both are good reasons to build your own or to buy someone's elses project.

I too have a desire for a roadster, and because of my size it will have to be at least a 32 or later. The easiest way that I can see getting one anytime soon would be to have Don (Itoldyouso) adopt me.