1959 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL

Highlights

• Restored to a high standard
• New paintwork
• Reupholstered red leather interior
• Rebuilt twin Solex carburettors
• Newly plated chrome trim

Overview

If you want to arrive in style, there’s no better way to do it than in a 50s Mercedes. Back then, the hand-drawn lines of the 190 SL made it stand out from the crowd, with its beautifully arched wings and sculpted bonnet. It turned heads then, just as it still does today.

It may be the little sibling of the 300 SL — the famous ‘Gullwing’ — but given that they are crafted from unobtanium, the 190 is certainly worthy of a place in your garage. It glides effortlessly along the road, with its smooth four-cylinder engine purring beneath the bonnet. And with a top speed of 107 mph, which is pretty impressive for a mid-century small-engined car, you won’t struggle to keep up with modern traffic wherever you go.

This particular 190 SL started life in the US, before being purchased by the current keeper in 2005. It had sat unused for some time, so a thorough restoration was carried out, including a full respray, and reupholstering the interior.

The car is now presented in superb condition, looking almost new inside and out. But the original steering wheel remains unrestored, as a nod to the car’s age and preservation. More recently, the twin Solex carburettors have been rebuilt and tuned, in order to get the most out of the 1,897 cc engine.

Such a beautiful car in such good condition is surely an opportunity not to be missed.

History and documentation

• Recorded by the DVLA as manufactured 1960 although the first registration document from The Rockefeller Center of New York dated 25th February 1959 would imply that the actual year of manufacture must in fact have been late 1958
• First registered in the UK in 2024
• There is a photocopy of an original document from Daimler Benz of North America declaring that the car was delivered on 25 Feb 1959
• Registered 538 XWB
• Purchased by the current keeper in 2005 from a dealer who imported it from the USA
• It had previously been in long-term storage and required work
• Restored to a high standard over an extended period and the seller is delighted to pass it on to the next owner at the condition that has been reached
• Two ring-binders contain the Type 190 Workshop Manual — Concise Edition and Supplement
• Original Blaupunkt radio documents
• Many invoices on file for parts and servicing including invoices estimated to total £10-20,000 for parts acquired over the last seven years, most of which were sourced from the Mercedes classic spares specialist, Niemöller
• MOT, road tax, and ULEZ exemption, as a historic vehicle
• The car received an MOT on 29 May 2023 with no advisories (the certificate references the body number rather than the VIN as the car was yet to be UK-registered which is why a registration number is absent and it cannot be located on the DVLA online systems); though this has since expired, the car has been almost unused since the MOT was issued
• V5 present in owner’s name
• HPI clear

Interior

• Upholstered in red leather with matching red carpets, the interior has been expertly restored
• The leather seat covers and door cards are in excellent condition, with barely any sign of use
• Leather-trimmed carpets remain bright and thick
• Side-facing third ‘jump’ seat behind the two main seats can accommodate a small passenger — or more likely some extra luggage
• The dashboard matches the body colour and retains a full set of original gauges and switches, aside from the clock which was mislaid at some point; a chrome plate blocks the hole in the glove box lid
• Being a US-market car, the speedometer reads in mph
• Even the Blaupunkt AM/FM radio is still present, although there is no aerial fitted so it’s not known if it functions as intended
• Door furniture has received new chrome plating
• Original gear knob and steering wheel with chrome horn ring, showing a nice amount of patina
• To the rear, the boot provides ample luggage storage
• Spare wheel clamp present, but no spare wheel

Exterior

• The elegant shape of the 190 SL is a design which looks superb from any angle
• flowing lines of the bonnet and wings give the car an elegant appearance
• All the body panels are well presented, with nice shut lines
• We couldn’t see any dents or signs of damage
• The paint is superbly finished, having been professionally resprayed
• All the chrome trim has been re-plated and retains a deep shine
• Lamp lenses clear and bright
• There are a couple of cracks in the rear light clusters
• Number plate surrounds not fitted but remain with the car
• 13-inch steel wheels, with chrome hubcaps and trim pieces
• The soft top roof has been retrimmed and remains very smart
• The underside of the car is very clean and tidy, with no obvious areas of corrosion or damage

Mechanical

• 1,897 cc four-cylinder petrol engine
• Single overhead camshaft
• Twin Solex carburettors
• The carburettors were disassembled, ultrasonically cleaned, rebuilt with new parts and tuned in Feb 2022, at a cost of £1,038
• The engine starts readily and quickly settles down to a quiet idle
• Four-speed manual transmission
• Synchromesh on all gears
• Servo-assisted drum brakes
• The seller informs us that the brakes are new
• The fuel tank appears to have been replaced
• Underneath, the suspension and drivetrain are all well presented

Summary

They certainly don’t design cars like they used to, and more’s the pity when you look at such an achingly beautiful vehicle as this 190 SL. The world needs more beautiful objects, so you can do society a service by purchasing this Mercedes-Benz and driving it on the public highway.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the comments section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in Newton Abbot, Devon.