1962 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Roadster

The Mercedes-Benz 190 SL was the brainchild of U.S. Mercedes importer Max Hoffman. Mr. Hoffman believed that a less costly roadster to its 300 SL sibling that bore a resemblance to the 300 SL could be just as successful. It made its premiere at the 1954 New York Auto Show and proved that Mr. Hoffman's ambitions for the car were correct, and it remained popular throughout the duration of its nine-year production lifespan.

The Mercedes-Benz 190 SL was powered by a 1.9-liter, inline four-cylinder engine fitted with dual Solex carburetors and delivered 120 horsepower. The 190 SL was built for comfortable road use and touring and its trunk could easily transport a weekend's worth of luggage for two. With a price tag of $3,840 when new, the 190 SL was nearly half as much as a 300 SL Roadster.

This 190 SL Roadster is finished in Pearl Gray (DB 125) over a Green leather interior, and has spent the majority of its life in Canada. In 1966, it was purchased by Marc Cote of Ontario and was owned by him for over two decades. The car followed Cote as he traveled to various postings around Canada, including bases in Ottawa, Halifax, Quebec City, and Victoria. The car left Cote's ownership in late 1987 and was purchased by Marie and Harvey White, of Ottawa, Ontario, in 1992. They retained the car for two decades and sold it in September 2011 by Alain Lopatin, also of Ontario. Recently, it has come into new ownership who are residents of Victoria, British Columbia.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2015