Hybrid Bicycles - new member seeking advice regarding older hybrid purchase

I posted a longer version of this over in C&V but since I am now leaning towards buying a hybrid I thought I would ask here as well. The short version is that I am looking for a fairly inexpensive ($150 or so) commuter, perhaps in need of work, that I can upgrade/repair as necessary to have a solid everyday commuter/city bike that's reliable. I know I'll want to add fenders, chainguard, back rack, and probably change handlebars (still deciding on that). I'm a novice cyclist and know even less about bike maintenance, but I am volunteering at the local co-op starting tonight with the hope that in a few months time I can tackle most of the stuff on my own, with the help of the tools and expertise of the co-op.

I like look of 80's/early 90's lugged frames, and also the aesthetics and quality of these makers:

Trek MultiTrack
Univegas
Fujis
Nishikis
Raleighs
Bianchis

Are there any specific models of the above brands (other than the MultiTrack) I should keep an eye out for? I've been checking places like craigslist and plan to branch out my search some more, but I thought I'd ask for some tips.

To give me an idea on pricing, there was a nice looking Univega Alpina Sport (mid-late 80's I think, the listing is gone) for sale last week on cragislist for about $120 that I would have gone after had the color not turned me off. And this morning I stumbled on a month-old ad for a 1994 Bianchi Project 3 (http://fayetteville.craigslist.org/bik/3040119658.html) with STX components for $175. It's got the lugged frame I am after and I really like the aesthetics of it. It's not exactly local and likely long since gone, otherwise I would have been very interested. Are the prices for those two bikes pretty reasonable?

Thanks for the help!

Don't forget Bridgestone!

Indeed, I'll add them to my list. I have seen a few photos of those as well and they look sharp.

Does anyone have any input on the Bianchi bike I mentioned in my previous post? I'm just trying to establish a baseline for what might or might not be a good deal if/when something similar comes along. I did some research and the Project 3 looks like it was the lower end of the Bianchi "Project" series, and originally retailed for $600, whereas the project 5 had nicer components and frame and retailed for $900. I am thinking that Project 3 I mentioned might be more of a $125 or $150 bike priced fairly, but if anyone else has any thoughts I am happy to be corrected.

I've been riding a Trek Multitrack since 1995 and I love the bike. I would recommend limiting your search to the 730, 750 and 790 models. I think the 790 was only made two or three years but the 730's and 750's were made for multiple years, although each is somewhat hard to find. Trek 700's are a dime a dozen but most have hi-tensile steel frames with maybe one or a few tubes being cro-moly. In the mid 90's, the 730 was the lowest model that was all cro-moly and even then, it wasn't double-butted (ie. lighter). You had to get a 750 for that. I would suggest going to www.vintage-trek.com (http://www.vintage-trek.com) and reading the stats on each year's multitracks and make a "hit list" of those that interest you.

Multitracks seem to run anywhere from $100 up to $200 or more. I think $150 is reasonable for a 730-50 in good shape and I would (and did) pay a bit more if I found a really good one.

Thanks very much for the input corwin1968, just the type of info I was looking for. I will check out the vintage trek website and do some research there.

I'm still open for input on that Bianchi I mentioned above if anyone has any thoughts.

The Bianchi looks good, but $175 seems like a little too much, unless the frame was in really great condition. From what I could tell in the photos, there seemed to be some scratches--which you'd expect for a bike that age being sold--that would take it down a bit to $150 or around there, to me at least.