Comanche's are cool but how about a WWII DC-3! About 5 years ago one was for sale in Tucson. She hadn't flown in a long time...no engines...the owner wanted to sell her for $11,000...what he could get from the scraper...I don't think she got any offers and was melted down

It sounds like the owner knows you really care about this "special" 152 and may be trying to take advantage of you...if he's a good guy since you worked for him he should give you a break as opposed to the scraper.
I would love to look up the 150s I trained in 42 years ago, but unfortunately my log book only shows Cessna 150.
William, I asked my mechanic about the Comanche 250 and he was not very positive. Too many ADs on those models and he doesn't like retractables anyway. Ha ha No one at the plane's home airport is interested so it must be a lost cause.
As for the DC-3, that is on my list of cool planes. Boy O Boy how neat that would be to buy one and "Do her up rite!" and have the money to fly it like I do Delmar. I don't think going back to work would be able to support that project LOL but that would be a motivation. Imagine instead of taking the Aerobat up for a Saturday Morning flight... take the DC-3. "
Cool factor unparalleled !! $1000 hamburger flight and you might as well buy the burgers for everyone on the plane as well. Ha ha. Ah.... good thing dreamin is free. Have a great day !