"New" 914. Is it worth restoring? Options

[Lemmonhead]

New member to the 914 world. I just bought this car yesterday as a project car for me and my son and now wondering if I may have bitten off more than I can chew. I am mechanically inclined and do most of the mechanical work on the cars I have owned but this may be a little more than my pay grade. I have never welded or done body work.
It is a 1972.
I purchased it from an older lady for $1000, it belonged to her son who passed away about 5 years ago. She needed the money and I initially thought it would be a good project. It has been sitting in the elements and baking in the hot sun of Las Vegas for the last 5 years, so every piece of rubber and the interior is shot. The engine is there but I have no idea what condition it is in. She thought it may have ran when it was parked but is unsure. No keys to the car.
We are on a budget and would like to bring the car back to a daily driver status. What do you all think?

She tried to cover the car with tarp and tape it down with duct tape but that didn't last long.

[JoeDees]

If the chassis is solid, you can do it for $4-5k.

[Mike Bellis]

If the chassis is solid, you can do it for $4-5k.

You can't even get a good paint job for $4-$5k. You can get it driving for that if there is very little rust and the motor is good. If the motor is bad, there goes another $5k minimum.

[JoeDees]

If the chassis is solid, you can do it for $4-5k.

You can't even get a good paint job for $4-$5k. You can get it driving for that if there is very little rust and the motor is good. If the motor is bad, there goes another $5k minimum.

3 letters: DIY

You can buy Eastwood epoxy primer for $100, primer and paint at Tractor supply for <$100, or one of the online paint suppliers for <$250, or buy a "legit" paint at the local paint shop for around $600.

A full rebuild in your garage is not $5k. The AA rebuild set with crank, P&Cs, rods, bearings, flywheel is $1000; or a P&C set from AA = $300, carb kit = $700, etc. You can buy a decent core 1.7 longblock for $100 if you're needing pieces and I've seen certified running engines on craigslist for $5-700. Or patrolling the classifieds collecting parts while doing body work can get you some quality stuff cheap. If you're doing your own work and not going nuts I don't see how you're spending that much.

When I finish my build I am going to post receipts and put some of this shit to rest. I'm not trying to be rude, but I think some of you guys are living on a different planet than me. People are always trying to discourage new teeners on this board and I think that's just wrong. Why try to ruin hope, for where there is a will there is a way, and much of this is depending on timeline and talent. If you're outsourcing work, it's going to cost you a lot more than DIY, if you need it quick it'll cost you more too. I'm on the 2-3 year program and searching for deals on stuff I won't need for months or even years.

But really I guess the question is: Are we talking concourse or a good looking driver that's great for cruise-ins and local shows?