West Coast Classics present this 1961 Mercedes 190SL Roadster in White over Black leather interior powered by it's matching #'s 1,897cc/120hp four-cylinder engine with dual upgraded Weber carbs and teamed with a four-speed manual gearbox and a new Black convertible soft top.
The 190SL model shares much of the styling with the 300SL roadster and also qualities that made the 300SL such a historically significant vehicle. With the 1954-1963 Mercedes Benz 300SL selling regularly at auction for over $1 million dollars, the savvy Mercedes Benz investors are buying up the best examples of the 190SL available.
This Mercedes-Benz 190 SL is a very drivable example of the marques stylish open-top cruiser as it stands, but which should be considered a good daily driving car that is a candidate for restoration at some point. Under the hood is a 1.9-litre inline-four cylinder engine, fed by twin Weber carburettors, which sends power to the cars rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission. Understood to be an original California car, this example was reportedly resotred in the 1990s, with the odometer indicating a very low 68K+ miles from new.
Odometer shows 68,000 miles
Matching numbers1.9L inline SOHC 4-cylinder engine
4-speed manual transmission
White exterior
Black convertible top
New tires
Recently serviced
Black leather interior
This Mercedes-Benz 190 SL is finished in White with a Black convertible soft top, over a Black leather interior with black carpet. It rides on the correct set of 13-inch steel wheels with polished trims and body-coloured hub caps. A more modern Pioneer radio/cassette player has been fitted in the cabin. The older White paintwork is in generally fair condition, having been repainted reportedly sometime during the 1990s but it should be noted that it does show wear such as stone chips and small markings and there are some small areas of cracking on the cars lower sills, and some areas where the paint has now started to peel away. Inside, the cabin presents well, with some light creasing on the black leather upholstery, but with no major wear. The interior has a charming and what most would consider time-earned patina throughout.
This 190 SLs most recent routine maintenance was reportedly carried out during September 2021 by German Car Service with the work comprising of an engine oil and filter change, along with the replacement of the brake fluids, all of the cars belts, and the rebuild of the cars carburetors, with very few miles on the car since the service. Power comes from a Type M121 BII 1.9L SOHC inline-four carbureted engine (based on the 300SL's straight-six) which has been equipped with upgraded Weber carburetors and the rear wheels are driven by way of a fully synchronized 4-speed manual gearbox. Other mechanical features include four-wheel drum brakes and a fully independent suspension derived from the 300SL.
Stylistically evocative of the mighty 300SL, but with a slightly less complex drive train, the sleek, aerodynamic and comparatively light Mercedes Benz 190SL was very advanced for its time. The 190SL was praised for its outstanding achievement in styling, engineering, quality of design, detailing and workmanship, as well as the general feeling of solidity which the car immediately conveys. The open-top Mercedes Benz was not designed as a thorough-bred sports car. Instead, it was conceived as an elegant two-seater for touring and everyday driving. Although the Mercedes 190SL was described as a roadster, it was actually a proper cabriolet with roll-up windows and a well-insulated top.
A timeless classic whose beautiful styling has aged very well, the 190SL is still comfortable and competent by modern standards. The final production tally by Mercedes from 1955 to 1963 was 25,881 cars, about 10,000 of which were sold in the USA. The Mercedes-Benz 190SL is among the most desirable cars of its era. Surviving Mercedes 190SL's have become increasingly collectible in recent years and they are much sought after all over the world.
