Mercedes-Benz 190 SL
Car-ID: XT0077
Vehicle Description
A US Army officer, based at the Garrison Stuttgart, was the first owner of this Mercedes-Benz 190 SL. When he relocated to the US, he took the car with him to Oregon. This is where, many years later, a relative of the current owner purchased the car. In 1987, the SL changed ownership within the same family and was brought back to Germany. At this point, the car was still driveable, though the interior already in need of restoration. The current owner then acquired a huge amount of original spare parts, intending to recondition the 190 SL when he had a bit of time. Nearly 30 years later, he acknowledged that this day will never come, so the SL is now being offered as a highly interesting and promising restoration project. A complete list as well as photos of all the spare parts – in their original packaging – is available on demand.
From the information supplied by the consignor, this SL in the delightful colour combination of black paint with bi-colour (red/white) interior is as yet unrestored and possesses a solid original substance as is extremely hard to find nowadays. The engine can be turned manually, the chassis looks completely intact and to quite literally top it all off, a white hard top in decent condition comes with the car.
This is a veritable one-off opportunity – an allround no-worry-package of a restoration project. Just one thing: Please don’t keep it untouched for another 30 years…
Mercedes-Benz 190 SL – the elegant touring sports car for the Boulevard
The idea came from the United States. In the early fifties, Mercedes harboured no plans for a sports car. The plant, not yet completely rebuilt, was operating at full capacity manufacturing sedans and trucks. But Max Hofmann, exclusive distributor in the United States, convinced the Board of Mercedes-Benz at the board meeting of September 2, 1953 to construct a small sports car for the US market.
On February 6, 1954, the new car, internally named W121, was presented at the New York Motor Show. The front was based on the larger and simultaneously displayed Mercedes 300 SL, but the tail was wider and closer to the Ponton sedan 180. A top speed of 190 km/h, 110 hp and conversion options for racing purposes were promised. During its presentation, the 190 SL suffered a bit under the overbearing 300 SL, which was a great sensation, for hardly anyone would have expcected Mercedes to make such an impressive entry into the sports car segment.
The Mercedes-Benz 190 SL was produced from May 1955 to February 1963 in a total of 25,881 units.
