I hope you find a good basis!
I picked up an '85 442 after searching far and wide for clean cars (I really wanted to find a 78-80 442/HO or Calais because I like the look of the Abodies better and they don't need emissions here in CO) . When my search first began I wanted to build up a Supreme because there's a TON out there and they're pretty cheap. After searching and searching it seemed like a decent Supreme was going to be $3500-$4500 but I'd still be stuck with a car without A) Console, B) Buckets, C)Rally Pack cluster, and D) a 7.5" Rear End plus they almost all were Vinyl/Carriage tops (A-C were a MUST for me and the Vinyl top is hideous IMO so I'd need to do the delete on that which ain't cheap nor easy). The cost of a console, bucket seats, rally pack and an 8.5" was going to set me back at least a couple grand alone! not to mention the time to find the parts and go get them (The cost of the parts and a clean car would've been more than just buying a 442 in the first place and if I were to have a clone paint job done that would've been another grand for a low end job that I would've had a ton of time into with prep work). And if you want to do a Hurst car, just buy one because you'll spend more to build a clone (last complete lightning rod set up I saw was $800).
If I were you I'd only search out Calais and Salons if you want to do a 4-4-2 clone. Depending on what you're going to do with the motor you may be fine with a 7.5 rear end. I did find a couple of really decent Calais/Salons, even a T-Top car in California for under $5,000 asking.
I eventually found mine down in Texas. It was a little over my original budget BUT it was a fair deal (I paid 27% under the original asking price for my car so don't be afraid to haggle).
(My car, but not my property)