so, i've been looking around on the interweb, and i think i've found a suitable guitar. it's a reissue of the Univox Hi-Flyer by Eastwood. it's a "Ramones Model" which means it doesn't have a tremolo. the site has a list of demo guitars that it's selling for less money, and they have a few lefties for $250 (as opposed to $400).
http://www.myrareguitars.com/demoguitars.html
scroll almost to the bottom, it's in the middle