Well, folks, I went and had a look today at this:
http://photobucket.com/partscar --- it is the BLUE one.
The owner called me when I was about 15 minutes away to tell me that he had accepted a $100 deposit on it this morning. He's only asking $500. He bought it about 5 years ago in California and he does not have a title on it.
It has a hole in the hood next to the MB emblem and a bad rust\peeling paint & metal issue between the hood and the windshield about a 4" square section; rust at bottom back corner of the doors....but not too bad. Hard top looks to be in very good shape. Has over 200K miles on it.
I did find a brand new 1997 Florida license tag in the trunk.
So, maybe, it is a blessing in disguise....that someone beat me to it.