Dude wrote:
Would you have been just as happy to buy a 1963 model? Could have saved
even more money.

"Blanche" wrote in message
Again, it gets back to condition of the aircraft and your flight
preferences. I have a 1969 cherokee and had no problems buying
an "older" aircraft.

The 1969 cherokee was local, discovered after 18 months of looking.
Given all the particulars, it was a logical decision. I never put
a use-by date on my search but I did have a few minimum conditions,
such as 180 hp (minimum), reasonably good shape. Didn't care about
the cosmetics.