I always wanted a ZC/ZD fairlane myself. Used to be able to get one around $5k, I sat back in horror as well when they shot up in price, as well as the cars I threw away (escorts, mazda RX3 and RX4).
If I lived on a farm and could store cars I would have at least $80k worth of cars that only cost me $1500 or less each. (if I bought a house when I should have I'd have a 500k house that cost me $130k too)
So I was drowning my sorrows and looks for cars on the cheap a few years ago and a car that's sometimes undervalued here (at least a few years ago), was the dodge phoenix. I got into chryslers and other weird things like citroens after following the canadian YT channel "cold war motors". Apparently the USA/Canadian 'Plymouth Fury 3' was sold here as the Dodge Phoenix. Early ones are like "Christine" from that movie, later ones like 1965 have stacked headlights like a ZC/ZD Fairlane. They seemed cheaper than most chryslers here and cheaper than old Fords etc. You can get a 70s version for $10k easy.
E: nice 65 version for $13k
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/lily...nix/1240223700