It looks like an overgrown Crosley. A body chop and lower frame would even that out. There's still enough wheelbase for safe driving, when it gets lowered. There's enough still there for it to be worth the price, untouched. The engine and front clip should fetch well over that, if one were to butcher it as a parts car. For a 1949 vehicle, there's comparitively little rust on it
Actually a decent and unusual project. Would make a nice driver and cruise nite car for a small cost. Much of the chrome will clean up.
We'll have to send him one of these, to make it possible. It'll work best, once he first gets the cash and credit cards back and then finds a roll of duct tape