MINI or AE85 for $2019

I have 2 choices for the $2019 Challenge a 2004 Mini Cooper S and a 1985 Toyota Corolla AE85. I'll go through the pros and cons of each.

Toyota:

• I'd have to poll for the FMV because of the way I acquired it
• Overall the car is sad and everything would need attention
• Local JDM engine supplier has a 2.0L 3S-GE BEAMS engine with ECU for $1,250
• Lots of fab work to get it ready
• I have everything above FMV as a budget minus the new engine cost but might be able to sell a few things off of it (and buy a cheap turbo manifold for the TO4 I already have)
• Don't know if it would be competitive.

MINI

• I have $1975 in the car now and it still needs about $250 in parts (some may not count on the budget sheet) so I will have to sell some things
• Have front driving lights and a supercharger core to sell for extra money (maybe $150 value)
• Already has many high performance parts: Pulley, CAI, throttle body, exhaust, maybe a tune (not sure) 
• Will have time to refine the car's setup and get it sorted
• Could actually compete in in the autocross and concourse

Which would you choose? I am leaning toward the mini as I am sure I can complete it by October and I'll have time to tinker with it. I just don't know if I can get it in under the budget.

MINI. It is extremely competitive right out of the box, the ones I hang around with have been reliable, and they can be lightened and power added pretty easily.  

If you have the room - both. Get the MINI and build it for the experience. Follow up with the AE85. 

Personally, I'd choose the MINI, but mostly because I have a fair bit of experience ripping those apart and putting them back together.  But my heart says AE85 since those are a lot cooler.

The MINI sounds like the quicker, easier, and more likely to get completed in time choice. Finish building it & bring it. You can always build the AE85 for 2020 and/or beyond. 

MINI ! For the win !

The MINI is the sound choice for $2019. The AE85 needs a lot of attention and I can give it that attention but not in the time frame for this year's challenge. I'll just have to sell some MINI pieces to put an order in at Pelican Parts. I have the supercharger core and the lights to sell but I need to dig up about $100 more. There is this un identified thing on the back of the MINI that looks like two pieces of pipe sticking out through the plastic bumper-cover inserts. I'm thinking it may be some sort of bike rack mount. Maybe it's worth something. I'll have to get creative.

I think you are going down the right path with the mini  good luck!