Thanks for the advice. asking price is $4000 but would end up around $3,500. Still alot of money considering the restoration involved. Thanks for the input! Appreciate your time. This is a great site. By the way already have a 1968 280se in good condition except for the front brown leather seats that are badly worn (holes in several places) but is a great cruiser. also have a 300e in perfect condition. always wanted a sl series though and will keep looking. not to be too verbose but owned a 1963 220s while i worked in Nigeria in the 60's. drove it 300,000 miles over the worst roads imaginable including launching over a ravine in the bush. it never failed me in 4 years. the rear end gave out just before i moved north to Niger so sold the car. it is probably still running as a taxi.