You might just try getting a car from the west coast. As for getting a car with rust, in my experience, if it has some rust at first sight, there's probably more you will find later. Can you weld or fabricate? If not, can you afford to pay someone else?
Also, stony (username on here) I think still has a 260z drag car for sale as a roller. It was listed around $5000, I think. It's a bit above your budget but would be a GREAT head start to your project if you can afford a little more for a better start.
BTW, you were probably asked to accept the rules when you registered, so please don't tell us you don't know the rules. If not, here they are: http://forums.hybridz.org/index.php?app=forums&module=extras§ion=boardrules
There's a link to them in the top right corner next to "View New Content."