Front ended Mercian - to save or not?

Hi, a friend has got a http://www.flickr.com/photos/38393968@N05/8462464020/ Mercian in 531 tubing but looks like it had a front on collision. The photos of top tube and down tube show they are slightly bent.

If these tubes were to be replaced, I am looking at between £150 to £350 to replace these tubes, depending on who does it. Mercian was the most expensive quoted. This wouldn't include a respray, which I would budget at £180 including decals.

Any other options to replacing tubes?

It's a nice marque so he doesn't want to chuck in the tip, wud rather put on wall. I've suggested he gives me the frame and I get it renovated and then pay him to build it up. Does anyone agree that I try and save it?

I'm not sure on current prices for mercians so any advice on what to do, if anything, will be appreciated.

It will cost you more to repair than it will to buy another second hand one. But it will be cheaper than a brand new Mercian I guess.

google mercian bikes, it is an amazing resource on the interwebz

and you can check out the prices for various frames

http://www.merciancycles.co.uk/frames

I think I've been convinced that it's not worth pursuing. Just dont like to see frames in knackers yards.

find someone who is building a tall bike

Hang it on your wall, when someone asks about it say you crashed it in the alps

chicks love that

Look for someone who runs a bike themed pub. That would be an awesome wall hanging.

or turbo?