[PorkChop]

I've been involved in MX5s since 2011 (because of my Roadster), I now have a NC as a daily driver, and I still have bits left over from my donor, so I generally pay attention to market trends etc. There are a number of bits where there is absolutely no call for spares (fuel tanks being one example I can think of).

EBay is not the only place to look, although saying that there's a 1.8 prop on there for £10 BIN.

If you're paying £300 for a mark 1 MX5 engine, then look elsewhere. I've seen an engine/box combo being offered for £150 from a reputable source in the last week. I sold my spare engine/box for a similar amount.

AK Automotive were selling mark 1 gearboxes for £30. I saw a GWO one being sold privately for £15 (if that was local I would have bought it as a spare!).

Hubs are £20-25 with good used bearings from breakers (what I paid)

A OEM ECU is £10-20

You can get an open diff for less than £50 quite easily (if you're lucky, then you might luck onto 2 for that amount of money). In the not too distant past, Torsen LSDs used to command £300 all day long (the 3.6:1 ratio usually went for a little more). Now a 4.1:1 Torsen will struggle to go past £200.

Driveshafts are anywhere between £15 and £50 (I've paid both amounts, in fact don't get me started on my car and driveshafts!)

Brake calipers start from £15 each. £10-15 will do the seals per caliper.

The majority of builders seem to buy aftermarket wheels or wheels from a different car. The ones on my donor were heavy aftermarket ones, needless to say they aren't going on the Roadster!

The only real advantages I can see of getting a donor car is if you have geography against you, being able to see where everything is on the loom and having all the little nuts and bolts spare (so long as you don't lose them!). Just because you have a full donor does not mean you don't need to fork out on replacing parts (in my case, driveshafts and calipers).

I should also point out I don't understand the fascination with needing to have age related plates (unless it's something like a Cobra rep). I know it does to some people, but I'm not one of them!

If you've never broken a car, take it from my experience that it takes up a LOT of space (I thought I'd made enough space, then quickly realised I hadn't). It actually stopped me from actually building the car on much more than one occasion because I had absolutely no room to move.

In short, I think people might just be getting a little too hung up on not being able to get a donor. So why should that stop you from building?