Hello Dave. I hope that you have a LOT of patience and perseverance as I think you're going to need both if you're to achieve what is a highly laudable ambition .... i.e. owning a Steamer. My only bit of (hopefully worthwhile) advice would be to put away as much money as you possibly can now; keep searching all of the usual sources - ebay; gumtree; autotrader; local dealer ads, etc., and hope that something comes up! These bikes are becoming increasingly rare and difficult to find - those that haven't been trashed or crashed might be suffering from any manner of ills - most likely problems with plastic tanks, or with scarcity of some of the parts that were unique to the model such as carbs (?); suspension components and the like. Look for something at the very top end of - or above the budget you've set and buy the best you can find as it's likely to work out cheaper than trying to restore or renovate a dog. This one would have been ideal https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273986328056 but it looks like it's long gone and a brief search of the usual sources elicited no other examples! There are quite a few examples of the subsequent 885&955 (fuel injected) modelsavailable but they are, for me at least, less iconic and infinitely less 'characterful' than the Steamer - absolutely NO offence intended to 955 et al. owners! I wish you luck with your search. A couple of forum members bought Steamers for themselves earlier this year - as you might see from the pages of this thread https://www.thetriumphforum.com/threads/steamer.13112/ - but it's not a regular or common occurrence. I'll keep my fingers crossed that you'll be joining the 'club' before too long!
Love the Waverley - made three trips over to Lundy Island from Bideford in the early 1980's when I worked down there. Basically an excuse for a day long drinking session - no one was sober, including the crew!
Cheers Adie P Steamers are few and far between, seen a few advertised. All miles away, some seem to have been garden ornaments Going to keep looking. Dave