Good inverters can have a high efficiency, switched mode inverters are lots more efficient as the old linear type.
You need good decoupling sms's for us Ham's... but it can be done.
If you want to use an old car generator, for lots better efficiency you shoud rewind the coils with different coils, thinner wire and lots more windings, that will boost the efficiency at low rev's.

In the links you will find pointers and sources for the other electric motors that are better suited.

You can make a set up for 100 - 150 dollars and keep a large battery loaded used for all kind of tasks, if you get a 200 - 500 watt generator and live in a place with decent amounts of wind, you can cut costs in your use.
Make it an average 12 out of 24 hour generation for a 500 watt generator, that would yield 6 kW energy.
Add some inverter/battery losses and stick with 5 kW to be used, daily.

Add some solar cells, when there's no wind, there will be sun, or both.