David,
I don't think I agree with your subject. Mine looks just like yours except it's dirty, greasy, dented, rusty and blue. And the steering wheel is on the other side. I just today finished the disassembly process on my LHD 67 230SL to the level you show in your photos. I would much rather put it back together with clean new parts than to take it apart with most of the rusty bolts seized and all the underneath parts covered with 44 years of crud (I've done both). I think the hard work is digging through the rust and grease to get it apart. In the springtime, I'll be where you are now with my progress. Congratulations, yours is beautiful already.
Please keep us informed as you put it back together. I have a selfish motive. I don't really trust the notes and photos I made when I took mine apart, so I need someone to blaze the trail for me as I put mine back together. I've already copied your photos to show my body and paint man what it's supposed to look like (except for the paint color and the right hand drive).
Tom Kizer
Quebec