Cheap Thrills: Ragged '57 Chevy

Jay Leno, in the August issue of Octane, says, "I'm the Mia Farrow of cars: when I see one abandoned I have to adopt it."
Well, if this '57 Chevy is an orphan, it's an autistic child with a penchant for drawing on the walls with crayons--it's gonna need more than love. But for the $5,000 the Northern Virginia seller is asking for it, the post coupe might be worth the bother. It's a '57 Chevy after all.
Despite its ragged looks, the car has got some things going for it aside from being a hot rod icon. First off, it's not a 4-door. Second, it's already been rodded up with a 350, a 4-speed transmission, and a 4.10 posi. Seller says it rides on a good frame but has Flintstones floors. He calls the brown patches that cover most of the car "surface rust," which by the looks of things seems an extreme understatement. Looks like someone did some body work 20 years ago (loads of Bondo we're sure) and then let it sit in primer in the back yard. In most cases, we'd advocate for letting a car like this rust into the ground. But it's a '57 and there just aren't that many unrestored 2-doors out there.
Someone offer this guy $3,500. Save this thing and spend the minimum possible to get it on the road. It would be the perfect rat rod and a great chance to drive the restoration guys crazy.