The 190SL Mercedes-Benz is a legendary automobile that is always well-received. This meticulously maintained roadster is being offered by its second owner, who has been the cars sole driver since 1960. This model is powered by a 1.9-liter, 104-hp overhead cam, inline four-cylinder engine that is coupled to a four-speed floor-shift manual transmission. The engine has twin Solex carburetors and the unit was rebuilt in 1975 by a master Mercedes-Benz technician.

In 1982 the 190SL was repainted in white by Classic Auto Restorations (Raleigh, NC). The bodywork was primed with Loxon acrylic and painted with acrylic lacquer to Mercedes-Benz specifications. The interior is presented in red and features Gullwing seats and a very rare Kinder seat. The seats and soft-top are new from 2013 and the car has also received new square-weave carpets. With bucket seats and Becker-Mexico radio, the interior delivers a sporting feel ideal for touring. This example also comes with the accessory removable hardtop.

Furthermore, the Mercedes-Benz comes with complete documentation of its maintenance history, as well as the original factory toolkit and spare tire. The car is in excellent condition as presented or further restoration may be of interest should the new owner desire.

The Mercedes-Benz 190SL was the vision of Max Hoffman, Mercedes’ representative in the United States. Hoffman understood that while the 300SL Gullwing Coupe might certainly catch American buyers’ attention, it had two drawbacks; it was a coupe, and it was very expensive. Knowing that the American market was ideally suited for convertibles, Hoffman convinced Mercedes-Benz management to build a simpler, less costly open model for the U.S. market, and the result was the Mercedes-Benz 190SL.

The 190SL incorporated many advanced engineering features and was best suited for stylish cruising rather than performance driving. Max Hoffman’s understanding of the American car market was right on target, and approximately 26,000 190SL roadsters were produced between 1955 and 1963.