I find the vintage Oly. Cremina to have stood the test of time. The newest model is basically a deluxe model of the original design. There are many 70s 80s Creminas still producing great shots. A few gaskets possibly a pressurestat or heating element and your good to go for many more years. Is there an equivalent vintage pump machine? I do also have a vintage Oly. Maximatic/Coffex that I find to be a pretty decent machine but what are other thoughts on other vintage pump machines that are still worth looking for?
Ed B.

Ed...my (fornmer) Anita, a HX pump machine is not "Vintage", I found it's shots to be every bit as good as my Cremina (1981)...just different...
Thicker mouth feel from the pump, more "refined" taste from the Cremina. I will say, in defense of the Cremina, I have not pulled a G-shot from it as yet, and had many with the Anita. Sold her to a friend in need of a friend.
Back OT, I've had the pleasure of downing shots pulled on an older 1 group Faema (?). I think the skill of the barista had as much to do with the super goodness of those shots as anything. As your skill level might possibly/probably be more advanced than mine from a lever standpoint, you might have reached your mountain.
I'm not mechanically skilled enough to repair/restore an older machine. I'll be looking for a pump as well, strictly for the convenience.
Good luck in your search.

Vintage Quick Mill machines (Super Quick 0650 and Espresso Sprint 2000) from the 1970's can pull pretty good shots with similar mouthfeel as a lever machine's shot. Interesting little machines as you can adjust the flow rate with a knob. Never seen this on any other machines.
This is my Quick Mill 0650 (rebadged as Rega Wien):
http://flickr.com/photos/26907910@N07/sets/72157605866112666/