I would say that buying a car on the west coast seems like a great idea, assuming they are original to the area.
1. They seem to have fewer rust problems.
2. The market seems cheaper on the west coast vs the east coast.
Italcarguy just sold what looked like a nice 2000 for $12k-$13k in Cali.
If the body is good, it will cost more, and if a deal DOES come up, you must act fast, the market for these cars is finally blooming.
Does it have to be a 1750? If you open your options to more cars, you might find what you want faster. I can respect knowing what you want, but they are all quite enjoyable and the differences are negligable once you own one.
This way you will have more time to do the work and modifications you want to the car to meet the deadline you have set for yourself.
Honestly, any Alfa that sells for 6-10k these days will have issues, or you are lucky. You are better off looking in the 10k-15k range if bodywork is important to you.
Good luck!