We can all accept that sometimes economic forces well outside of our control demand that basketcase cars be restored, even against what sound judgement would decree reasonable. However, there are moments when I think if you’re foolish enough to believe you’ll ever get your money out of a genuine frightpig of a car, you deserve to lose your shirt. Check out this 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL here on eBay UK, an icon of the bubble car era that, at another time, would have been pillaged for parts and sent to scrap long ago.

The seller says “viewing is essential” in a somewhat thinly-veiled admission that this Mercedes cabriolet is rough beyond even your darkest expectations. Sure, restored and survivor examples are fetching bigger numbers than ever before, but that doesn’t mean every boned drophead deserves to be saved. Truly impressive levels of rot and metal fatigue are evident on this car, which looks to have spent some time at the bottom of a lagoon before being extricated for public viewing.

The interior is the best part about the car, as the dash and door panels look fairly solid. The gauges look like they could live on in another restoration candidate as well. Beyond that, I’m not sure what this 190SL will offer anyone beyond a headache and a lawn ornament your neighbors will quickly protest. It does come with the engine and gearbox, but between the mechanical bits and the aforementioned interior, I’m not sure I see a car worth over $45,000 US per the seller’s £30,000 asking price.

Even the bumpers have rotted away, along with large expanses of the trunk lid. The fact that the number plate practically blends in with the bodywork is some indication as to how long this Mercedes has been sitting. I’m not sure which is worst, this example here or the rotted out 600 in Florida we featured a few days ago. At least you’ll save on shipping with that one. Does this 190SL deserve to be brought back, given the current demand for these baby 300SL’s?