RGA,
Of course it can be repaired. If it can be built, it can be rebuilt.
Maybe Bill did scare you, but I can tell you from experience that he is close on the material cost, but then neither of us have seen it.
It is free, but look up its current value and there may be a reason. If you can take it apart carefully, you may be able to save a lot of the expensive parts.
If you do this yourself (the only thing that would make sense to me), look at the whole project. Get a place that you can work on it without weather concerns. You may have to spring for a temporary shelter of some kind. Then I see two very common failures (many I have had to clean up after) and the first is not taking enough apart to get to clean/solid structure. And the other is not spending the money on the right tools and materials. This job will a multi-kilobuck operation, but it can have a big payoff if done right.
Says the guy that has salvaged boats and currently has a 43yo coach.
Matt