“Old-timer wollen were gefahren, Spaß bei gemeinsamen Ausfahrten und Oldtimer-Rallyes.” That is the core for Wytze with his wife and also his son as an enthusiastic partner. The journeys with the Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Cabriolet from 1957 always provide fun and sometimes unexpected experiences.
Unexpected experience
About fifteen years ago, the Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Cabriolet was offered on the internet. The once beautiful Mercedes was in a terrible state, the interior almost destroyed by the bright Californian sun. The color was as bright as the sun: Orange. The first offer was not accepted, especially because there were more candidates and ultimately no higher offer was made. The sale was closed and the search for the history of the car could begin.
Birth certificate
With the chassis and engine number, Mercedes-Benz was able to provide the birth certificate of the Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Cabriolet. It was delivered to the American importer Studebaker/Packerd with a fixed (hard) top in the color white. History also shows that the car was later imported by a company in Oldenzaal and sold on to a private individual in Friesland who had plans to restore the car. But it became a stranded project with the result that the offer on the internet was once again available.
The new life
With his son (owner of a garage), the car was now taken care of and completed. A big job, no welding, but a new interior and a new coat of paint, now in a gray tint. What was still missing was the soft top. It turned out that these were not included for convertibles to America. The hardtop was sufficient, especially in California where the sun has more hours than in our little country. Fortunately, the missing part was found in Germany.
Difficult car?
Wytze: “For me, the Mercedes 190 SL Cabriolet is a 'Traumwagen', but due to the repeated problems with the carburettor sometimes a 'Problemwagen', but the relationship remained lasting! As the owner of a Ford A (1930) and this Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Cabriolet, it has long been a permanent part of my hobby life.”
Great that classics are preserved on the Dutch road network in this way. A pleasure for the owner to drive in a car with personality. As far as we are concerned, Wytze has earned an appreciated wink.
Unfortunately I am that “John with the cap” for whom such a car is unattainable….
Once there was a 190 sl from 1957 for sale at the Domeinen (also looked very restored, and I believe that was also a few years before this sale, I don't remember exactly now)…. very little was offered…. I blindly bid €10.000
Despite the fact that I turned out to have the highest bid (unbelievable), the car was not awarded to me
Well it would have been a super bargain,,,,, very unfortunate that it didn't work out, because this car is at the top of my 'unattainable wish' list…..
A few years ago, while touring provincial capitals on two wheels, we saw his little brother. At first I thought it was the same one, but the photos show a different license plate. The color is also slightly different.
One of the most beautiful cars ever designed!
Unfortunately, they are gradually becoming unattainably expensive for Jan met de Pet.
Looks very nice, difficult cars to restore "Good". I assume that's one of the reasons
that it looks so beautiful, it is "no welding". I was able to help in the early eighties,
to a 190SL of which everything was rotten, except for the huge aluminum-like A pillars, which
hidden very deep in and behind the dashboard. I have both air intakes for the cabin
taken care of, and the dashboard. I worked part-time for a Dutchman who lives here
in Vancouver had a company that did difficult Mercedes repairs, the Grand Prix Boutique.
Learned a lot there and really enjoyed it.