1957 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL. Im Auktionsverkauf. Schätzwert: 90.000 € - 120.000 €.
1957 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL. Im Auktionsverkauf. Schätzwert: 90.000 € - 120.000 €.
Impeccably restored by Reinhard BahrOne of the foremost 190 SL specialistsAn exceptional restorationBeautiful colour combination
The idea for the 190 SL, like so many good Mercedes ideas of the era, did not originate in Stuttgart. It came from a Vienna-born businessman sitting in New York who knew rather precisely what American customers wanted. Max Hoffman imported European automobiles into the United States and persistently urged the Mercedes-Benz board to freshen up what was, to put it mildly, a somewhat conservative model range. Beautiful, fast European cars sold extremely well in post-war America, and Hoffman wanted a few of them bearing the three-pointed star.
He had two particular cars in mind. One was a road-going version of the 300 SL racing car; the other was a stylish open two-seater for customers who wanted something with a similar appearance but had neither the appetite nor the budget for racing technology. A boulevard sports car, in other words, with an exciting exterior and rather more conventional engineering underneath. And indeed, in February 1954, two corresponding prototypes stood side by side at the New York Motor Show: the 300 SL and its considerably more modest little brother, the 190 SL.
The latter had been created in remarkably short order. Designed and developed within just a few months, it sensibly made use of components already available within the Mercedes parts catalogue. Its technical foundations came from the W 120 and W 121 saloon ranges. The four-cylinder engine was a new design, although by no means intended exclusively for the new sports car. It would soon find its way into the saloons as well. For the 190 SL, however, it was given a little more sporting character. Two Solex twin carburettors helped extract 105 hp from its 1.9-litre displacement. By the standards of the day, that was more than sufficient to leave most other traffic behind. It did not, however, turn the Mercedes into a serious sports car. Mercedes therefore wisely described it in its sales literature as a “Touring Sports Car”. It sounded suitably brisk without promising too much.
Visually, however, the little SL was allowed to borrow shamelessly from the 300 SL. The radiator grille, wing lines and numerous details established the desired family resemblance. Beneath the bodywork, the relationship ended rather abruptly. There was no sophisticated tubular spaceframe like that of the 300 SL. Instead, the 190 SL rested on a shortened floorpan derived from the saloon range. Less spectacular, certainly, but considerably cheaper to manufacture – and presumably quite sufficient for the journey from hotel to beach.
At their joint presentation in New York, the 300 SL was already much further advanced. The 190 SL required another year or so of development before the hastily assembled prototype had matured into a production-ready automobile. Mercedes presented the final design at the Geneva Motor Show in spring 1955, and production began at Sindelfingen two months later.
There were, however, a few temptations during development. Several prototypes were fitted with six-cylinder engines, which would have brought the smaller SL somewhat closer to its big brother technically. Series production ultimately failed to materialise because of the anticipated production costs and a veto from the board. The 190 SL was to remain the attainable SL – attainable, at least, by Mercedes standards.
It was eventually offered in three factory configurations: as a roadster with a soft top, as a coupé with a hardtop, and as a coupé with a hardtop plus an additional soft top. Even a Sport version appeared in the brochure. With a smaller windscreen, windowless aluminium doors and no bumpers, it had been relieved of a few unnecessary kilograms. Mercedes hoped this would improve performance and make the 190 SL attractive to private competitors in motorsport. Just 17 examples were built. Evidently, the enthusiasm of customers for spending their weekends racing a 190 SL was somewhat limited.
The standard production model was an entirely different story. Max Hoffman had judged the market correctly. Like the 300 SL, the 190 SL became a success on a scale that Stuttgart had probably not anticipated. It was particularly popular in Hoffman’s adopted homeland of America, where a substantial proportion of production was exported and where the Mercedes was offered at a lower price than in Germany.
Almost 26,000 examples were produced by 1963. Mercedes then discontinued both SL lines simultaneously: the 190 SL and the 300 SL, by then available as a roadster. Two very different automobiles that had once stood side by side in New York were replaced by a single model. The 230 SL would now have to fulfil both roles.
Like most of its counterparts, this 190 SL was originally delivered to the United States. It went to a Studebaker and Packard dealership near Los Angeles. Several years ago, Reinhard Bahr acquired the car and brought it to Bavaria as an excellent basis for restoration. Bahr is no stranger to the 190 SL. For decades, he has devoted himself to the professional restoration of these cars and has earned an exceptionally strong reputation in the field.
This 190 SL provides an impressive demonstration of why. Restored in recent years, the Mercedes is captivating from every angle with its distinctive appearance. The quality of the workmanship is quite simply exceptional.
There was no half-measure approach to the restoration. The body was completely dismantled, stripped and sandblasted. The main floor, boot floor and rear panel were renewed, after which all ancillary panels and components were carefully fitted. The underbody and wheel arches received a thin layer of stone-chip protection before the body was repainted inside and out. The same uncompromising approach was applied to the brightwork: components were either re-plated or replaced where necessary.
The interior received equally thorough treatment. The seats, trim panels and soft-top compartment were retrimmed in high-quality leather, complemented by loop-pile carpets and refurbished woodwork, switches and controls. The wiring harness and instruments were also overhauled. Details such as the light ivory-coloured control knobs and leather-covered loudspeakers demonstrate that attention was paid to even the smallest elements.
Mechanically, virtually nothing was left untouched. The engine was completely dismantled, with the block and cylinder head reconditioned and the bearings, valves and valve springs renewed. The gearbox was inspected and resealed, while the front and rear axles, suspension and complete braking system were comprehensively overhauled. Fog lamps, radio and whitewall tyres complete the period-correct presentation.
The result is not a superficially refurbished beauty, but a classic whose restoration continued well beyond the point where any of the work could still be seen from the outside.
Chassis: 121.042-75-01372
Motor / Engine: 121.920-65-04036
Papiere / Documents: Deutsche historische Zulassung
Schätzwert / Estimate: € 90.000 – 120.000
Ort / Location: CLASSIC EXPO Salzburg Messezentrum Salzburg Am Messezentrum 1 5020 Salzburg
Datum / Date: 17. Oktober 2026 11:00 bis 13:00 und ab 16:00
Besichtigung / Viewing: 16. und 17. Oktober 2026
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