hi volvopeople--

quick intro-- short on time today. have had many volvos in my life, just not lately. however, i was recently offered a '75 sedan left by a departing husband in his wife's driveway and untouched for the last six years. went to see it a week ago (rural setting) and had a heck of a time getting the hood open. finally used wd40 on the catch and gently tapped in some wood wedges, and up she popped. engine LOOKS pretty intact (and she assures me her husband kept everything tickety-- when last parked "everything" was in top condition).
i stuck my battery in it and the engine turned over instantly, no probs, but there wasn't a drop of gas and i didn't have time to rectify that situation.

my questions?

1. the body is covered in tree pollen and other organic debris. i believe it can be restored with patient/careful washing/polishing. am i naive?

2. the seats are leather, but one of them has a patch of what appears to be mildew. is this hard or impossible to deal with? the rest of the interior looks pretty good.

3. the hood, which i fully opened, does not want to close. can't seem to get it to budge back toward closing, even after wd40-ing the hinges, etc. it feels like if i apply force, the actual hood will give (and bend, or worse) before the hinges will. i don't want that to happen. any suggestions/past experiences with same or similar?

i intend to go back there with a can of gas the day after tomorrow (and a tire pump for the front slow leaks) in hopes of driving it away. NOW am i being naive/an idiot? my gut feeling is that it will run. but i obviously won't get far with a hood in front of my windshield.

wish i'd found this forum a few days ago, but hopefully someone can toss me a little hope/help/advice. i'd love to rejoin the ranks of active volvophiles.

thanks optimistically and in advance,

mezz