Some time in the near future im considering buying a project car. Im wanting to buy the car, strip inside out refurb and pull out engine and either recondition it or get a more powerful engine. My question is which car would you choose if you were to do this.

Im considering several cars and i am going to mainly focus on big hp.

tossing up between

VL commodore- drop in rb26 twin turbo
datsun 1200 or 1600- drop in 13b turbo
hz/hq- drop in reconditioned 308
ford cortina- 20b conversion or v8
torana- reconditioned v8 or turbo 6

Due to my job at a very well respected deisel engineering workshop i have acess to all the hightech machines and the best trades man to recondition engines. most of the work i will be able to do myself or at the most minimal price so i will be able to save huge $$ on any engine work.

I love old cars that are done up.

what would you do?