Finding a replacement defender.

I sold my 130 crew cab last weekend (offer I couldn't refuse). Not a problem I thought I've seen loads of defenders for sale I fancy. Mainly from trawling the internet every evening dreaming! Now cash in hand I'm struggling. Perhaps being to fussy. 2 I've seen that were a bargain were sold understandably in hours.
Now dilemma, pay out for a decent defender or buy a scrapper and build a keeper?
I've had a few and undertook numerous repairs that probably equate to a rebuild but never took the leap. What's puts me off is the horror stories and Internet littered with abandoned 'projects'.

Buy a galv chassis and build your own to suit what you need, it's only a ballache if you can't afford to buy new parts and have to make old bits fit. Go for it! If you have a garage or a barn then it's easy enough. Wouldn't fancy doing it on a drive. The benefits of building your own will out way the struggles you will encounter and then if future you will know how to fix it all when you break it

What about buying someones abandoned project?

I bought an old scruffy 93 110 200 tdi, slowly but surely it will be just how I want it, wanted the 200tdi for its basic principles as the td5 before was a pain, defo a keeper as nothing could replace it, also didn't want anything someone else had built as now I can have it just how I want it

Think it is a plan. I have a garage and always just had the defenders as weekend drives so no deadlines. I think I'll look out for a tired 200tdi that needs a galvanised chassis. Have to be a 90 can't fit 110 in and ill have to put the roof on last on the drive.