The sad fact about these gat guards is the same as that old partially restored MG Midget in your garage, that was made in 1972. Put in your garage in 1990 and now the paint has given way to rust. The electrics are frozen up, tyres turned to dust, hydraulics are jammed solid, absorbed moisture and have rusted the wheel cylinders and the rust has turned to holes. Same as these gate guardians. If they were looked after with a bit of upkeep and minimal maintenance and paint they'd look presentable and a credit to all. But you've GOT to look after the insides with protective oily vapour. Even tanks that were gate guards just end up as hard targets.

A couple of years before the RAF left Abingdon there had been a REAL (not a plastic fibreglass replica.....) Spitfire outside the main guardroom. By the time they decided to keep it for spares or restoration, due to the forthcoming closure of the base, a passing glance quickly told them that it was beyond saving, even for display purposes

If you have that old Mini Cooper or MG MIdget in yours, get it out now and start protecting it for that '.....I'm going to restore it one day....' moment