Noob welcomes any and all help on this 1982 rabbit diesel hatchback

[sodakrabbit]

Here's the scoop. I've never owned a VW before. I'm looking for a good project to have fun with. What do you guys think this is worth? Anything I should know before buying? Any resources you can point me to to help me decide?

My buddy wants to sell his 1982 VW rabbit hatchback manual diesel. He burned vegetable oil in it and 50% diesel 50% vegetable oil on cooler days. If he drives over four miles or so it starts to overheat, he says it's a bad head gasket or thermostat. Is this correct? Anything else it could be? Is this a big problem or a simple fix? He says the motor has never been overheated though and it doesn't knock, just wants to overheat. Rust, dents, heater doesn't work, and one window doesn't stay up. It's got 177,000 miles on it.

How much should I offer this guy? Is it even worth buying or should I keep looking? Are there any specific questions I should ask this guy?

[audifans]

well, the body looks pretty rough and with overheating issues, you can imagine a new head gasket and possible internal damage.
I'd look elsewhere, get a solid body you won't be embarrassed driving it and something that has a solid engine.
If you want a project, start with something decent and worth something. There are many cars out there to look at. Get some experience with looking at cars. After you look at 20 of them, you'll be in a better position to judge. Never look at a car at night or in the rain, you won't be seeing the reality of the situation. In fact, look at the car and then come back and look at it. You'll catch things that you glossed over the first time.
You can drop a bunch of money in these things quickly.
there are lots of pics posted on vwvortex: the gallery or things like this post below (just one of many) you scroll down to where the pics start and then the continue into the infinite.
VWvortex Forums: MK1 pic post.....coolest thread ever
check out solidinside's post to soldiertashi below
you want some whack vw's check out the dopeshizz post in vw vortex