I'll offer up a minority opinion. From your post it sounds like you want to drive it and for that option you are getting good advice. There are some people, myself included, that really enjoy the restoration process and get a great deal of pleasure bringing older vehicles back to as good as we can get them. I enjoy driving my restored '52 but I enjoyed the restoration process as much or more. I know I'm in the minority, just wanted to offer another opinion.
I do want to drive it, but I also want to restore it. Back in my younger days (that makes me sound old...) I used to work on everyone else's vehicles. Mostly low riders at the time, and we did some awesome work for teenagers! I never had my own project truck though. I'm mechanically inclined and have a background in metal fabrication which I haven't really used since joining the Navy in 98. So I'll enjoy the restoration process too. But, until I have an idea of what I really want to do, I do want to drive it. I hate having to redo work and I'm at the point where I'd rather pay the $$ up front to get it done right the first time, I call it buy once, cry once. haha
