I do think the car is a ugly bastard, but being in the bastard business I tend to think:

1. The car (body) IS preserved, and kept for
2. It can always be restored to original condition

True?
Better than those that let perfectly good specimens rot out in a field or barn because of some minor repair task and 30 years later conclude the car is too rusted out to restore.

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Tomas, Sweden
1966 Mercedes Benz 230S with OM617.912, automatic. Disk brakes from W108
1983 Mercedes Benz 300TD grey, OM617.912 and 5-speed manual
1983 Mercedes Benz 300TD blue 7-seater, OM617.912 and 5-speed manual