the SLR brakes have been regaled by none other than the late, and much-missed, Sheldon Brown as being possible the best single pivot sidepull ever made.
Wow - I just took apart my 85 Cannondale and it has the SLRs. I'm glad I only sold the frame!
My question on this purchase is - if you want to tinker, why not buy something a little more in-the-rough so you can both save money and get to tinkering?
+1 on the niceness of that ride though...