Looking at the pics of the base car you started with and the condition id consider just doing as you stated, a driver and drive it and have fun.

I dont think your gonna have a car thats gonna last 20 years as the deterioration of the unreplaced metal is going to continue.

With your considerable skills and if you had started off with a much more rust free base car I could see going further, but id just drive and enjoy it if it were mine.