My story goes with the first purchase of a 190sl 61 in Ivory - partly dismantled - I found it to be a tin worm special from barn storage. It turn out it would cost about 70K to make it a nice one. Sold it on E bay with the help of Bruce. (The 19-0 ended up in Texas and was restored to a 100 pointer.
I knew then I want a 280SL. Found a blue one out of Belgium that was a dealer show car from a 3Mer that brought it back. Had soft flowers - bad ignition and iffy transmission.
Keep looking and about a week latter and nice original tobacco brown show ups and the price was really right. I test drove it and drop the tyranny at the second light. The guy was sitting in the seat next top me. Was he surprised. We parked it and did a little negation. Week later it was unloaded at Bruce's. Tanny was repaired and and took a few VERY cool Fall drives. That was about 10 years ago.