1961 | Mercedes-Benz 190 SL

The Mercedes-Benz 190 SL is a two-door grand touring convertible with a removable hardtop that was produced between May 1955 and February 1963 with a prototype first shown at the 1954 New York Motor Show. It was sold alongside the faster, more expensive Mercedes-Benz 300 SL which it closely resembled both in its styling, engineering, detailing and fully independent suspension. However, the 190 SL did not use the 300 SL's purpose-built tubular spaceframe W198 platform but was built on a shortened monocoque R121 unit. The 190 SL was powered by a new 1.9 litre straight-four SOHC engine that developed 104bhp and was later also used in the W120, 180 and W121, 190 models. The four-cylinder engine block of the 190 SL was based on the six-cylinder engine of the 300 SL.

Unusually, this rare and desirable right hand drive 190 SL was delivered new to Trinidad in the West Indies where it resided for four years before finding its way to the UK with the supplied green logbook showing it was first registered here on 10th August 1965. A loved car, it has had only four owners since its registration in 1965. A supplied copy of the bill of sale in April 1970 confirms Mr. Edwards purchased the car for the princely sum of £859 and 3 Shillings having traded in his MG 1100 as part exchange for £359! The second UK owner embarked on a restoration in the early 1990's spending £21,237.71 (more than the car's worth at the time). However, luckily being a partner at the fearsome London based Clifford Chance legal firm, we suspect the bill was easily paid. Our vendor purchased the car in 2010, himself a successful city individual who since then, has kept the car in dehumidified storage and regularly started and maintained it.

Resplendent in light metallic blue and supplied with its hardtop, this rare and desirable right hand drive example is ready to be enjoyed. Supplied with V5 registration document, MoT test certificates going back as far as 1973 and many invoices. With only 562 right hand drive examples made and most of which having been overly restored, this usable and pretty example is ready to be enjoyed by its new owner. Consigned by Will Penrose

Lot details
Year: 1961
Make: Mercedes-Benz
Model: 190 SL
Registration: FCY 975C
Chassis No: W12104020022724
Engine No: M.121-9280.000632
Odometer: 81,111


* One of 562 right hand drive example

* Desirable hardtop

* Good history file