[Austin W Hogan]

I would recomend cleaning the gun as you would after shooting it. Wipe down the metal with a Hoppes patch, and clean the wood with a soft rag and a little turpentine or mineral spirits. Look the cleaned gun over; if there are no big dents or bulges in the barrels, and no big cracks or splinters missing from the wood, it is probably restorable with less work than you estimate.
It is your choice relative to the amount you feel you should spend on restoration. The mechanical repairs and cleaning can be quite reasonable. Restocking and cosmetic repairs to the finish are much more expensive.
A few hundred dollars in repairs to your VH may yield a much better gun than a few thousand spent on a modern side by side.

Best, Austin