I found a free Singer 533 from 1978 for my granddaughter. She helped clean it and feels very possessive of it. She has made a quilt top here on it, but her dad says she can't take it home until it jams and she learns how to unjam it. It hasn't jammed yet. She needs to come back and do the batting, quilting and binding and then we'll see. She also has a pillow to make. When these are finished, we'll decide where the machine is going to hang out. She did offer me $39 for my Elna. No sale!
I think buying a machine and using it for a project is a good idea. Looks aren't everything.