Look for an old Chinese mak90 or a Yugo M70 or m70ab2 if you want an underfolder. The Chinese AK's are hard to beat for being very close to a Russian gun, and the Yugos are built like tanks.
Norinco was the marketing company/exporter, the plant that built the rifle will be stamped on the trunnion, 386, 16... J's Pacific was the importer. Looks like they closed up shop around 1995.
Dont know how close you are to South Bend, but just south of there 15 minutes is the town of North Liberty. On the corner of SR4 and SR23 is a shop called Genes, excellent exhaust work.
The military trucks are all 24 volt, and parts for the electrical and charging system would be hard to come by if you are stuck out on the road somewhere. I have also heard horror stories trying to plate and insure a military truck. If I were you I would look for an early H1 that has a turbo...
If its clean thats the average price for a wasr. Canted sights and mag wobble are a couple things to watch for once you have it in your hands. Its hard to say exactly whats it worth without seeing it.