Auction house Catawiki has sold a nice Mercedes Benz 190 SL from 1956 this week. The white roadster was transferred to a new owner for a market-conforming amount of € 80.000, - excluding auction costs. The restored Benz from one of the first years of construction is characterized by numerous beautiful original details. Moreover, the buyer gets a very rare aluminum hardtop.
Well cared for by owner
The fifties roadster was kept in good condition by its previous owner. In addition to paying attention to the paint and keeping the interior in immaculate condition, the technical part was also well maintained. The engine, gearbox and rear axle underwent a revision. The engine was also equipped with an electronic ignition. All in all, this 190 SL is a beautiful example of a beloved model from the fifties.
Some traces of use.
The Benz has only a few traces of use. The chrome deserves some attention and there is also a small damage in the original roadster hood. In any case, the new owner will have access to a beloved model that had its origins in the fifties.
Brief history of the Mercedes Benz 190 SL
The Mercedes Benz 190 SL was built from 1955 to 1963. It has so far been the only Mercedes Benz (excluding the virtual successor SLK) which, together with another model, represented the SL series of the Stuttgart-Untertürkheim brand: the magical 300 SL series. He was technically based on the Pontoon model of the Baureihe W120. The sports car received the Werksreihe code W 121 BII from the factory (the 190 Limousine still in the pipeline was called W 121 BI). Special was that the 190 SL had a body of steel sheet metal, with the bonnet, the door sills, the doors and the boot lid made of aluminum. In addition, the beautiful "Touring Sport" from Mercedes Benz was fitted with a newly developed engine: The 1897 cc engine with code M121 BII fitted with one overhead camshaft generated 105 HP and was ventilated by two Solex "Flachstrom" carburetors. The braking was done by means of four hydraulic drum brakes, which could be further enhanced from 1956 thanks to the ATE-T-50 actuator from that moment on.
Three versions of a successful type
The 190 SL, designed with many rounded elements, was available in three versions: the version with a fabric convertible roof, the version with only a hardtop roof or a version with both a fabric convertible roof and a hardtop roof. That versatility of choice was one of the secrets of sales success. The same variety could also be further flavored thanks to numerous options. The fact that the reliable Mercedes technology was low in maintenance and the 190SL had fine travel characteristics also contributed to the fact that the 190 SL was an appealing car. It was finally produced 25.881 times and was always held in high regard by the trade press due to its design, driving characteristics and proven reliability.