 1959 190 SL | 1961 190 SL  |
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1960 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL news, pictures, and information | ||
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 |  |  | Roadster |
The 190SL was the companion car to the larger 300SL. Both shared similar styling features. The 190 was powered by a 1.9-litre, four-cylinder, single overhead cam motor that developed approximately 120 horsepower.
A desirable option, which is included on this car, was the third person transversal seat that was large enough to accommodate an adult passenger.
The 190SL was available as a roadster or with a removable hardtop. A restoration on this car was only recently completed.
 | Roadster Chassis Num: 190SL015488 | |
| Sold for $55,000 at 2009 RM Auctions. | ||
In 2009, this car was offered for sale at the Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey presented by RM Auctions where it was estimated to sell for $30,000 - $40,000 and offered without reserve. The lot was sold for the sum of $55,000, including buyer's premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2009
| Chassis Num: 121042-10-017818 | ||
| Sold for $53,820 at 2010 Bonhams. | ||
The 190SL was introduced at the New York Auto Show in 1954 and entered production in May of 1955. They had four-wheel independent coil-spring suspension using double wishbones in the front and swing axles at the rear. There were roll-up windows, a standard cockpit heater and a folding soft top. A removable steel hardtop was available, and eventually a fixed-roof model was offered. An optional side-facing seat enabled accommodation of a third passenger.
The 190SL would remain in production until replaced by the 230SL in 1963. In total, nearly 26,000 examples were built.
This example was purchased by the current family in 2008. The previous Californian owners had retained the car for 27 years. It is believed that the car had been restored in the early days of that ownership.
In 2010, this Roadster with hard top was offered for sale at the Exceptional Motorcars and Automobilia auction presented by Bonhams. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $53,820 inclusive of buyer's premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2010
 | Roadster |
Named the 190SL, it took many styling cues from the larger 300SL. A prototype was first shown at the 1954 New York Auto Show. The 190SL was sold alongside the faster, more expensive 300SL. Many engineering details were similar such as the fully independent suspension, both cars having double wishbone suspensions at the front and swing axles at the rear. However, the 190SL did not use the 300SL's purpose-built tubular space frame W198 platform, but was built on a shortened platform that was modified from the W121 small sedan.
During its first years of production the 190SL was available as a sports-racing model with small Plexiglas windshield and Spartan one-piece leather covered bucket seats and aluminum doors. The four cylinder engine was not competitive. Available as a convertible or with a removable hardtop, 25,881 cars were produced of which 20,636 were for the export market.
This 190SL Convertible is a freshly restored example, finished in silver with a red interior.
 |  |  | Roadster |
The design of the car changed very little over those years. The biggest change by 1960 was the wrap-around rear window on the optional hardtop. The 1900cc, 105 horsepower engine was very smooth and provided more than adequate power for touring the countryside.
Max Hoffman was responsible for the sporty two-seat Mercedes-Benz 190SL sports car. The S represented 'Sports' while the L meant Light, or 'Sehr Leicht'. With a curb weight of 2560 pounds, it was hardly 'light' when compared with other vehicles in it class, some 500 through 1000 pounds less. It was however an excellent alternative to the higher-priced Mercedes-Benz 300SL. The gullwing-door 300SL was available only as a coupe while the 190 SL could be purchased as a Roadster with a soft top convertible or with a removable hardtop roof.
In 1954, Mercedes introduced its two-door 190SL at the New York Auto Show. Fifteen months later the production version was displayed at the 1955 Geneva Auto Show. Gone was the air-scoop that had been on the hood, along with other aesthetic aspects.
The 300SL was initially priced at $7,460 while the 190SL was $3998. As a result the 190SL outsold the 300SL by nearly eight to one. In its best year 4,032 190SL's were produced. In its worst year only 104 examples were produced.
Under the hood was an 1897 cc four-cylinder OHC engine that was capable of producing around 105 horsepower. It took 14.5 seconds to go from zero to sixty and had a top speed of nearly 110 mph. Drum brakes were placed on all four corners of the 14 foot, one inch vehicle. Servo brakes were optional until 1956 at which point they became standard.
The engine capacity was taken into account when naming the vehicle. By moving the decimal place once to the left, it created 189.7. The number was then rounded up to 190. So the 190 represents the approximate engine capacity in liters, meaning about 1.9 liters.
The 190SL production run lasted from 1955 through 1963. Most of the body-styles were open roadsters the rest were coupes. In comparison to many other nameplates, this is a very low number, guarantying its exclusivity and rarity in today's standards. It was a beautiful sibling to the prestigious and awe-inspiring gullwing door 300SL.
By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2006
In 1954, Mercedes introduced its two-door 190SL at the New York Auto Show. Fifteen months later the production version was displayed at the 1955 Geneva Auto Show. Gone was the air-scoop that had been on the hood, along with other aesthetic aspects.
The 300SL was initially priced at $7,460 while the 190SL was $3998. As a result the 190SL outsold the 300SL by nearly eight to one. In its best year 4,032 190SL's were produced. In its worst year only 104 examples were produced.
Under the hood was an 1897 cc four-cylinder OHC engine that was capable of producing around 105 horsepower. It took 14.5 seconds to go from zero to sixty and had a top speed of nearly 110 mph. Drum brakes were placed on all four corners of the 14 foot, one inch vehicle. Servo brakes were optional until 1956 at which point they became standard.
The engine capacity was taken into account when naming the vehicle. By moving the decimal place once to the left, it created 189.7. The number was then rounded up to 190. So the 190 represents the approximate engine capacity in liters, meaning about 1.9 liters.
The 190SL production run lasted from 1955 through 1963. Most of the body-styles were open roadsters the rest were coupes. In comparison to many other nameplates, this is a very low number, guarantying its exclusivity and rarity in today's standards. It was a beautiful sibling to the prestigious and awe-inspiring gullwing door 300SL.
By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2006
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 1960
Mercedes-Benz
models |
| Mercedes-Benz 220 Series |
| Mercedes-Benz 300 SL |
| Similar Vehicles | |
 | 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL |
| Similar Automakers | |
| Audi | BMW |
| Infiniti | Jaguar |
| Land Rover | Lexus |
| Similarly Sized Vehicles from 1960 |
| Chevrolet Corvair Series |
| Lancia Flaminia |
| Maserati 3500GT Touring |
| Maserati 3500GT Vignale |
| Similarly Priced Vehicles from 1960 |
| Alfa Romeo 2000 ($5,030-$5,950) |
| Cadillac DeVille ($5,250-$5,500) |
| Jaguar XK-150 ($4,500-$5,200) |
| Chrysler New Yorker ($4,405-$5,130) |
| Cadillac Series 6200 ($4,890-$5,450) |
Average Auction Sale: $60,696 |
| Mercedes-Benz: 1950-1960 |
| Similar Automakers |
| Other models by Mercedes-Benz |
| Manufacturer Website |
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| 1959 190 SL | 1961 190 SL |
