Thanks kip Foss and dmorrison.

I take your point about restoration making sense only for very rare cars. I wouldn't want a car that was so perfect that I would not want to take it for a good drive. I admit to being a little anal about my SL in that I try to avoid driving in the rain and of course it doesn't go outside in the winter.

No doubt I will be faced with some of the replacement items mentioned by Dave. Well worth it though. I'm prepared to pay to keep it in good nick as I hope to have it for many years to come. Its given me a whole new appreciation of fun in the summer.

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1984 380SL (58,000 miles)
Anthracite on grey
1997 BMW 540i
Alpine Silver on Burgundy