Father-in-law's boss owned one down in Miami. Except for added pax seats behind the cockpit and the Bose headsets, it looked pretty much like it did flying patrols in WWII. I asked what it cost to fly. Said he instructed his accountant to never tell him, unless it was time to sell. Still owned it when he died.

Talked to the Dixie Wing pilot at Sun 'n Fun a few years back. He flew the SBD and the P-51 at airshows. He's a defense attorney, and a furloughed Air Atlanta B-727 FO.

It's been a couple years, but as I recall, it's actually not that expensive to become a pilot for them. You join, then make a donation (@$2k?) and they'll train you for the PT-26. After you get some time under your belt, you can bid for the SBD or the P-51. The only trick is you need 200 hours in a T-6 to fly the SBD or the P-51. He had an attorney friend who owned one, so he only had to pay for gas.

Sounded like if you're the type who's willing to wipe oil off the cowling and sell t-shirts at an airshow, you'd find a way after a few years.