1957 Mercedes-Benz 190SL

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Details

is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely magnificent Mercedes-Benz 190SL.

The ‘Lieferschein’ or Delivery Note on file confirms this example was delivered in November 1957 and exported to New York. The car was finished in the classic Mercedes-Benz colour of ‘white’ (paint code DB50) with a black interior and black soft top. It also confirms that the car is ‘matching numbers’.

The car was restored by SL Classics in Germany in 2015. It was then sold by Gooding & Company at their Amelia Island auction in March 2016 to a UK collector. More recently, the car has found its way to Australia.

Today the odometer reads 285 miles, which is most likely the mileage since the car was restored.

This car is STUNNING in every regard, apart from a very minor scrape under the front bumper which most likely occurred when the car was shipped.

Accompanying the car is an unrestored hard top.

Hard to find better.

Highlights:

Restored by SL Classics in Germany to an exceptionally high standard.
Original colour and ‘matching numbers’.
Fitted luggage.
Ready show, use and enjoy.

 

Background

Following the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Europe’s car industry was decimated. In Germany both Daimler and Benz went back to producing cars post-war, however, times were tough. A merger between Daimler and Benz would ensure that both companies survived and following a technical co-operation agreement in 1924, the companies formally merged on the 1st July 1926. Mercedes-Benz was born!

Subsequently, Mercedes-Benz went on to build some of the greatest cars of all time. The cars from Stuttgart bearing the three-pointed star all had one thing in common . . . they were renowned for their technical innovation, build quality, luxury and performance.

In the 1950’s Mercedes Benz produced one of the greatest cars of all time – the iconic 300SL Gullwing and 300SL Coupe. Whilst fabulous cars, they were very expensive and generally sold to the rich and famous. Mercedes wanted to build a sporting luxury car that still looked classical in the mould of the 300SL, but it had to be affordable and the plan was to build such a car in far greater numbers than the exclusive 300SL’s. Enter the Type W121 or 190SL as it became known in the mid 1950’s. This model was an outstanding success and circa 25,000 cars were built over the next 8 years of production. The formula worked and Mercedes Benz carried it on with great success in the 1960’s with the Type W113 230SL/250SL/280SL models. This evolved into the Type R107/C107 280SL(C)/350SL(C)/380SL(C)/450SL(C) models built throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s.

Mercedes-Benz marketed the 190SL as “ . . . as sports car for all seasons”.

To quote their website:

“ . . . Sporting elegance, safety and comfort – with these qualities the 190 SL  conquered a whole new circle of enthusiastic fans of dynamic driving.  Mercedes-Benz unveiled the prototype of the 190 SL (W 121) at the International Motor Sports Show in New York in February 1954, alongside the production version of the 300 SL “Gullwing”. Although the two-seater roadster with folding soft top stirred passions, it was to undergo a further thorough revision by the Mercedes-Benz designers – known at the time as stylists.

In March 1955, a full year after the New York premiere, the production version went on display at the Geneva Motor Show. Like its elder brother, the spectacular 300 SL “Gullwing”, the 190 SL rapidly became one of the most coveted dream cars of its day. Although less powerful than the 300 SL, it generated no less excitement and opened up the SL legend to a wider circle of customers. By 1963 sales had totalled 25,881 units.

And even long-distance drives were enjoyable thanks to the comfortable suspension. The handsome sports car for all occasions was particularly popular among female drivers, who appreciated not only the sporting elegance of its design, but also the open-air feeling that came as standard. With its easy-to-operate soft top and optionally available coupé hardtop, the 190 SL was the first SL to combine the possibility of open-top driving with absolute all-weather capability.”


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