Sounds like a fun project at a nice price! I'd DRIVE it, right off the bat! Fill the tires with air, the carb with fresh fuel, check the water and
oil and take that thing around the block!
Plenty of time to get down and dirty later, go for the "moment", drive it NOW.
... and if the brakes don't work, don't let a little thing like that "slow you down"! Just downshift and use the e-brake for that "run around the block" smile thing.