Looking to buy - need advice

[midget-farmer]

Hi - I came across a 79 convertable for sale cheap - super cheap - too good to be true cheap.

But -- Its disassembled & has been sitting for 10 or more years.

The story I get from the seller is - He purchased it from his boss at a shop. The boss had replaced the engine with a rebuilt carburated engine & took the car apart for a restore. It is still on its wheels & engine/tranny are in place, but the interior is out & the fenders & top & glass are out.

Claims the rust was worked over way back when, but said I'd have to take a look - floors are solid.

Engine turns over by hand but he hasn't tried to start it.

Anyway - he said 10 years ago he started it & drove it onto his trailer & then into his barn where it has sat ever since. The engine turns over by hand - the brakes are frozen & it does not roll.

I've done mechanical restorations before - but never on a VW - in fact this will be my first VW Bug (used to have a jetta).

So my question is this - I don't know the first thing about bugs - are they easy to work on? do they require a ton of strange tools etc? Where do you find parts & advice. You know - all the new guy questions.

I've heard these are valuable when restored or in good condition - this thing is a basket case - but if its not rusty I can bolt on parts!