A choice of project aircraft is very much driven by budget, followed by knowledge of the type then spares availability and time scale. And I do not intend to upset or offend the owners of some of these types all of which I love dearly(aircraft that is not the owners).
For example an Auster would meet all these criteria apart from your wish for something of interest(unless a early example with wartime history were available). DH Tiger Moth have a similar mixture of materials to the Auster and most have wartime history. Both types use engines that a reasonably common.
Wooden aircraft such as various Miles/Comper/Percival/some Moth types present a bit more of a problem in terms of airframe durability/glue failure/rot(unless a well stored example can be found). But do meet the mechanical spares availability requirement, and some have history. Rebuilds can be a case of replacing all the old wood with new using the old as a pattern.
The choice of metal airframes is a bit limited to the Chipmunk or perhaps the Beagle Pup(bit new) which are ideal from a durabilty/spares point but are not scarce enough to have driven up the interest.
If you start looking at twin engined aircraft things start getting expensive, and bigger heavier trainers like the Piston Provost would see cost rise appreciably.
Some personal favourites I would like to see returned to the air are the Reid and Sigrist Desford, Short Scion, General Aircraft Monosar, Airspeed Ferry, and Saro Cutty Sark, but most of these are extinct so I can only dream of replicas. Which does raise the idea of a replica of a 1930’s type as a project such as the Chilton DW1 and Comper Swift both of which are available as plans I believe.
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