Vehicle Description
Following the successes of the 300SL Gullwing and its roadster
sister, Mercedes designed a very similar-looking, but far more
affordable hardtop roadster to meet a strong demand. The 190 has
all the same body hallmarks the 300 pioneered and is virtually a
shrunken version of the big car. Build quality was phenomenal
(especially compared to the British sports cars of the day) and the
190 has been a resounding success and an in-demand collector car
for over sixty years.
This was a US-spec model that has been well cared-for all along,
finally being comprehensively restored some years ago. We believe
the silver/red livery was the original colors and It was originally
ordered with the factory hardtop which is still with the car and
included in this sale.
The paint and underneath body work were very well done and the
seats were reupholstered in real leather, not MB-Tex. A new black
canvas soft top was fitted along with new carpets. The dash,
steering wheel and instruments are all in excellent condition
and-very important-the chrome trim and bumpers on the car are in
beautiful shape, with no dings or cloudiness.
Best of all, a year ago our shop was engaged to overhaul the
engine. It was sent to a 190 specialist who thoroughly went through
the unit, even replacing the crankshaft and cylinder head-it was
not done on an exchange basis. We replaced all motor mounts, hoses,
belts, clutch and before reinstalling the engine, did a full detail
job on the engine compartment, plus reconditioned the radiator and
replaced the water pump. Not stopping there, we installed the
popular Weber carburetor conversion for better starting and running
(the original Solex carbs are in the trunk).
190SLs continue to show gradual appreciation in the market (~5%
last year) and this car with all of its improvements and new engine
is still priced below The Hagerty #2 price guide, making it a
terrific choice to actually drive and enjoy rather than a trailer
queen you're afraid to use.
If you are considering one of the classic or collectible cars on
our website, be assured that coming for a personal visit to inspect
first-hand the car that has captured your fancy is very welcome. We
practice transparency in all of our descriptions, but believe that
nothing is as convincing as seeing and touching the car yourself.
Plan a few hours, so you can see, touch, feel and drive the car,
and enjoy a tour of our restoration shops to see 'where the magic
happens.' If your schedule is too committed, we also welcome a
knowledgeable agent visiting for you. Please understand that sales
are final, so the time for all due diligence is before you buy. Our
cars are sold AS-IS, since most are on consignment from owners. We
follow FTC guidelines for all sales and certainly want our future
clients leaving more glowing reports among our reviews!
