Much like its bigger brother, the 300 SL, the 190 SL was the brainchild of U.S. Mercedes-Benz importer Max Hoffman. Hoffman believed that a smaller, less costly roadster that bore a family resemblance to the 300 SL would prove to be just as successful. It was popular with the public at its premier in Hoffman’s adopted hometown at the 1954 New York Auto Show, and it remained popular throughout the duration of its nine-year production run.

At its heart lay a 1.9-liter, inline four-cylinder engine with dual Solex carburetors that was capable of producing 120 horsepower, leading to a top speed of over 105 mph. Unlike the 300 SL, this was an automobile meant for comfortable road use and touring. The 190 SL was an effortless cruiser, and its trunk could easily swallow up a weekend’s worth of luggage for two. Priced at $3,840 when new, it cost nearly half as much as a 300 SL Roadster. The car was a huge success, and Mercedes-Benz produced 25,881 190 SLs during its production run.

This particular 1962 190 SL Roadster, finished in Pearl Gray (DB 125) over a Green leather interior, has spent the majority of its life in Canada. It was purchased by Marc Cote, of Ontario, in 1966 and was owned by him for over 20 years. Cote was a member of the armed forces, and service invoices for the car from his ownership show that the car travelled with him to his various postings around Canada, including military bases in Ottawa, Halifax, Quebec City, and Victoria. After leaving Cote’s ownership in late 1987, it was purchased by Marie and Harvey White, of Ottawa, Ontario, in 1992. They retained the car for another two decades and sold it in September 2011 to Alain Lopatin, also of Ontario. Following his ownership, the car returned to Victoria, British Columbia, where it is located today. The car comes with a binder of documentation, which contains service and registration documentation that date back to 1978.

To many classic Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts, the 190 SL Roadster is finally getting the attention it deserves. It offers most of the thrills of its big brother without the price tag, it is just as capable of touring as the 300 SL, and with a supple ride, comfortable interior, and spacious boot, it is an ideal vehicle for a weekend getaway. The gorgeous white with green example presented here is no exception to the rule, and it is ready to return to the open road.