Mothballed: 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL
While the Mercedes 300SL was aimed at select customers who could spend lavishly, uber-dealer Max Hofman wanted a less expensive car to sell. Having already honed his skills at influencing manufacturers including Porsche and BMW to make cars suitable for the US market, he convinced Mercedes to design a “junior” version of the 300SL – it would be a touring car, sporty looking but with a smaller motor. This car – called the 190SL and introduced in 1954 alongside its race-bred sibling – sold by the thousands, helping to restore Merecedes’ post-war finances. Here on craigslist is a 1959 Mercedes 190SL awaiting the touch of a sympathetic owner. Mothballed for over fifteen years, the car is said to have minor mechanical needs and very good cosmetics. The price is $80,000 firm and the car is located in Los Altos, California. Thanks for the tip, T.J.!
Not much information is available from the listing’s verbiage, but we can glean a bit from the photos. The first thing that jumps out at me (other than evidence of mice) is that set of Webers. This engine is an 1897 cc in-line overhead cam four-cylinder, but it should be breathing through two Solex side-draft carbs. The Weber conversion is fairly common (argh); in this case, the owner has also fitted two K&N air filters – about the most inelegant solution imaginable. If you want to replace those Solexes, this guy has a set – for $12,500, about the cost of the world’s best MG Midget. In stock form, the 190’s engine is good for 104 bhp. The gearbox is a four-speed manual, and the brakes are drums. On the one hand, the car is stable, but on the other hand, it is ponderous. This engine bay needs a serious application of time or money to bring it back to respectability. And that battery appears to be about a hundred years old.
The interior is in average condition but the seats are an unknown. I wish sellers would remove seat covers before photographing interiors, but at least it’s mostly clean in here. The trunk contains a well-used spare and a tool kit. This car does come with an owner’s manual and parts catalog – so we can give it two “pluses” in the pro/con columns, for the tools and the manuals.
Karl Wilfert and Walter Häcker designed the 190SL to be similar to the 300SL, with lancets over the rear wheels and a similar rounded aspect to all its lines. The car could be had with a hard top, soft top, or both. This one is apparently the soft-top-only version. The rear bumper wears several stickers, and that rear license plate frame is European. Prices of 190s have been rising for several years now, as collectors have begun to appreciate its looks while overlooking its performance. Too, the 300SL is off the table for most of us, so owning the “junior” version is deemed “close enough”. At the top end, it’s easy to spend $250k on a 190SL, but now and then, unrestored cars with a few problems crop up for far less. Restoration costs are prodigious, however, so buyer beware.
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Comments
This car has a lot of potential if it’s not too rusted away. The Weber carbs are a plus, IMO-the air filters are indeed atrocious. The stock airbox can be made to work with the Webers.
Prices for a nice example have certainly escalated recently.
I was a dealer mechanic in the late 60s and these 190 SL’s were in daily driver use. The Solex carbs where a constant problem. Often times lossening up on the maniflold due to engine vibration and creating huge vacuums leaks. We also sold Healys and MG’s which I liked better and they drove better in my opinion.
I don’t know why there is ever any negativity towards Weber. I own one of Max Hofman’s other “if you build it that will come” classics, a ’73 BMW 2002Tii. My car has the original MFI, but if I did run carbs, they would be Webers. Original? No. Drivable and reliable? Yes.
I grew up in Los Altos. Our neighbor across the street had a 300SL convertible that I thought was the coolest thing ever. I almost cried when he traded it for a Jensen Interceptor. I didn’t see a lot of the 190SL’s around back in those days. But they really did present a nice lower cost alternative to the 300. Another stroke of genius by Herr Hofman!
$80 K for a secretary’s car.
Hello JW. I “prefer executive assistant.” Thank you.
I had 1960 Tr3 and a friend had a
190sl. His 190sl was much slower than my tr3 and could not corner well.
Beautiful car but definitely made
For liesurely drives in the country.
Glad they made these, wish they still did, actually all the co.s Fiat had their 850, the K.Ghia, Miata, (either the probe or EXP for ford?) etc.
Fella drives one round here every summer (housed during rd salting). He’s a Silent Gener so musta been a teen when these came out (korean war vet age). ’S good to see. Seems in survivor condition. He flipped open the hood 1 time (’n I mine) and I saw w/o shock the 2L. Its not gunna have a 4 or 5L. I like these and would make sure the seats were under much slipperier covers as 1st change in my possession. Drop top, get some elbow patches and a tweed ‘flat cap’, be gone…
8^ )
Probably sacrilege to say it, but I’d just get it going, clean it up a bit and drive it everywhere I went. Let someone else down the line do a full restoration, I don’t have that much time/money in my life!
That’s right. Enjoy the car. To the fullest. To heck with making it into a garage quee.
Price way too high.
In good nick these are terrific touring cars, however, this one is a far cry from being ready for trouble free enjoyment.
The rodent damage would scare me away. Might not be any padding or insulation where it belongs.
Very nice Benz. Engine most likely needs complete over haul..40 sounds better with the work it will need..
I think the price would be better reflecting running cars and coffee show car considering the restoration and parts it needs the best I could offer would be $20k if I was interested in actually buying this.
That being said, the 190sl is the only Mercedes-Benz that I like in bright red.
pos