Ease back into the restoration world with a jeep. That way you can take the wife for a Sunday drive with it and get her to go with you to a vehicle rally. Then she'll feel part of the group and you'll be free to expand into other ventures with her blessing. Gotta keep the softer half happy
I take the wife and kids to casual outdoor cars shows with our jeep and it's usually the only OD vehicle in attendance. But the spectators love to see it and the wife enjoys talking with them. Occasionally it pisses off the high-end custom vehicle owners because it draws people away from their expensive trailer queens but that's life.
PS- I agree with Lynn that sharing a project with a friend will never go well.