Mercedes 190 SL

In 1953, Mercedes-Benz told its American importer Max Hoffman of its plans to build a roadster based on the Ponton saloon. Hoffman insisted that the car should resemble the 300SL coupé as closely as possible.

As a result, the Mercedes-Benz 190SL took on some of the styling cues of the 300SL with gullwing.
In particular, the design of the front end and wings was very similar.

This roadster was designed primarily for the North American market, which offered the biggest outlets for this type of car.

Compared with the 1954 prototype, the production car had the gearshift lever on the floor rather than on the steering wheel, which would have cost less but would not have appealed to American customers.

The production 190SL also lacks the bonnet-mounted air intake of the prototype.

The Mercedes-Benz 190SL is intended to be a dynamic car with all the seriousness of a Mercedes-Benz, but the manufacturer made the mistake of presenting the car as a sports car.

Critics were quick to point out that the axle ratio had been shortened to give the car a little more character.
But the car was a hit, and the public embraced the 190SL’s civilised temperament.

The letters SL stood for “Sport Leicht”, or light sport. But the public soon realised that, after the 300SL, which was a racing car adapted to the road, the 190 SL was more of a touring car, fast and comfortable, capable of covering long distances without difficulty.

This philosophy was fully reflected in subsequent generations of SLs, which became luxury cars.

The 190SL was so popular that it achieved its second best year of production in 1960, five years after its launch.
The model presented here dates from 1956, so it is a 1st generation recognisable by its small rear lights and less chrome.

Restored a few years ago, it still boasts a perfect level of finish, with its very tight black paintwork retaining great depth and the body panels well aligned and with no distortion.

The 3-seater interior, upholstered in red leather, is of the finest quality and invites you to come and enjoy the great comfort of its perfectly designed seats, like an invitation to endless journeys.

The mechanics work perfectly, as do the brakes, gearbox and running gear.

This Mercedes 190 SL has successfully passed our scrupulous inspection, which is why we are offering it for sale.

Year1956BodyRoadsterColorBlackTransmissionManualEngine Size1.987 cm3Power105 hpPriceOn Request