[MagicRat]

Well, if this is your first car, buy the best condition one you can afford.

Please don't buy a wreck or something that will take a lot of work. I appreciate your enthusiasm and willingness to work but nothing discourages a novice old car enthusiast more than being faced with huge amounts of work to do on a car before it can be enjoyed.

You will enjoy the car and the old car hobby much more if you can drive and enjoy the car as soon as you buy it. So keep the work on the car to simple, easy tasks, such as installing a new carpet, or cleaning and detailing the engine bay. Some mechanical work is easy such as tune ups and brake jobs.
But avoid any car which needs major work, such as engine rebuilds and especially rust/dent repair and paint and body work.

As for the type, I suggest, since you do not specify any preference, buy the best one you can afford and don't get hung up on one particular make or model.

However, if you can, stick with Chevy, Pontiac or a popular Ford, such as the Mustang, because parts, especially reproduction parts are much more plentiful.

Avoid Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth, Buick, Oldsmobile, AMC and less popular Fords, simply because there are far fewer parts available. (Note, I'm talking about body/interior parts here, generally, mechanical parts are quite easy to come by. ) However, if you find one thats well-priced and needs nothing, go for it.