I could not agree more with you Colin. Back in the day, (can't believe I just said that), I restored quite a few C1, C2 Corvettes, 60's Mustangs and 60's Shelbys. Could not have been easier. Tried a 280SL.......one and done. These cars are so well built that they are a huge challenge to restore correctly. Compound that with today's astronomical parts prices, availability, and sky high man hours, and I can see how restored prices are where they are.