Car was built in 1964.... Rubber is the least of your problems. The electrical system is the big one. Can you trust it? Without driving around locally to ensure no issues you can't tell.
Don't even think of driving the thing. Go out there, get it started, check it out, arrange transport and fly back. Rubber and fuel is not a big deal to fix, the electrical system is. There's an overwhelming chance you'll drop dead or catch fire driving back. Unless you get to spend a month driving it around to figure it out, it isn't a good idea.
Take a vacation in CA, visit the nice sister, pull car out and get it running so you can drive it onto trailer and either U-haul it home or pay a shipper. When you get home, find someone you know you trust and if you are over your head, sell it and that's it.
Coming from another Pontiac owner (I have a 70 LeMans Sport with a nasty 462",) buying Pontiac stuff isn't common, nor is it cheap. Along with that, these aren't Chevys- there is no such thing as a cheap crate motor, you can't find parts many times at any auto store, and many around town just don't know anything about these things anymore.
Frankly, going the checkbook route on a mechanic and still being on a budget is a bad, bad idea. $5K isn't going to buy you much and the results will likely be disappointing. I suggest you have your buddy get some tools from Sears, some jacks and spend a bunch of time researching small things. Better learn to like auto work. It isn't hard on this car and it's rewarding.
Two most common questions I get about my Pontiac:
1)- dude is that a big block Pontiac?
(Ponchos are all ONE block size-Duuuhh you idiot. it's Chevys that come in big and small)
2)-Why didn't you build a chevy?
(because Pontiacs are high nickel blocks and undersquare so there's lots of torque and you don't need to rev 'em. They last forever too. Chevy = butthole engine, everyone has one)
rjp
PS- Another option- donate it to me
tl;dr- don't drive it home, you'll never make. it. If you can spend $5k now, just fly out for a vacation and check it out. if it's all there it's worth shipping home via transport. Shouldn't be THAT much to do