[mikepellegrini]

I paid $2,000 for my 86 951 that was in a whole lot better condition - the interior is very good - nice leather sport seats in great shape (the PO put seat covers on which preserved the leather) and the dash has no cracks - exterior - the paint was "okay" but had a lot of rock chips in the nose - no dents.

The car had sat 2 years. To get it running, basically all I had to do was replace the TPS. I've put a couple thousand more in since then (tires, starter, belts, waterpump, ball joint rebuild, etc) but most of that stuff was not completely necessary.

What you've described is about one short step away from being a parts car - interior and exterior thrashed.

The guy's dreaming if he thinks he can get $3,500. Maybe if he parts it out he can get that much - although it might take a couple years that way.

I wouldn't pay even $2,000 for it - maybe $1,000 - but that'd be it.

I do my own mechanical work so that's not a biggie for me - none of the mechanical repairs you cited are that terrible. But body work and painting is (cause I suck at painting).

If you can do both the body and mechanical, and you know precisely what you're getting into in the way of expenses, then go for it.

But otherwise I think I'd probably walk away.