• 012
  • 001
  • 002
  • 003
  • 004
  • 005
  • 006
  • 007
  • 008
  • 009
  • 010
  • 011
  • 013
  • 014
  • 015
  • 016
  • 017
  • 018
  • 019
  • 020
  • 021
  • 022
  • 023
  • 024
  • 025
  • 026
  • 027
  • 028
  • 029
  • 030
  • 031
  • 032
  • 033
  • 034
  • 035
  • 036
  • 037
  • 038
  • 039
  • 040
  • 041
  • 042
  • 043
  • 044
  • 045
  • 046
  • 047
  • 048
  • 049
  • 050
  • 052

1961 Mercedes Benz 190SL

$115,000.00

Stunning, extremely original, mechanically strong, correct and honest 1961 Mercedes-Benz 190SL with extensive documentation, original hood and fenders, all books and manuals, tool-kit, etc. finished in factory correct Black over Red. More pictures available upon request.

Sold

Interested in this car? Please fill out the form below

    Description

    Offered for sale is a gorgeous, extremely original, mechanically strong and correct 1961 Mercedes-Benz 190SL, owned for the last 31 years by a doting Southern doctor who always afforded the car the best possible care. Verified by its original data card (included), the car is finished in factory correct Black (DB 040) over red leather, arguably the most appealing livery ever offered on a W121. The car left the factory as a two-tone car with a White (DB 050) hard top and hub caps, and while we still have the original White hard top, we also happen to have a correct Black “big window” hardtop as well, which we prefer. The buyer will have their choice of tops to accompany the sale.

    Of particular note, the car retains the following:

    – Entirely Numbers Matching Mechanicals and Body
    – Original Dual Solex Carburetors (Rebuilt in 2004)
    – Solid Completely Original Undercarriage
    – Original Factory Spot-Welded Front Fenders
    – Original Stamped Matching Numbers Hood
    – All of its Original Books and Manuals (Including Stamped Service Booklet)
    – Largely Complete Original Factory Toolkit
    – Extensive Binder of Service Receipts and Documentation of History

    Please note that additional pictures can be provided upon request.

    Sold new to its first owner by Giorgio Motor Co. in Baltimore, MD, the car made its way to Alabama when a Birmingham couple acquired it in the early 1970s. As “preservation class” vintage cars hadn’t yet been given the credence that they’ve come to enjoy (both in terms of recognition and valuation) the second owners made the choice to refinish the car in its factory correct black paint at some point during their tenure, which is the paint the car still wears today.

    In February of 1984, the car was sold with 115k miles on the odometer to its third and most recent owner, also of Birmingham. Like the second owners, the doctor always kept the car properly serviced and garaged, using it as a cherished weekend driver – in 31 years of ownership he accrued a mere 7k additional miles. Upon acquiring the car he had the seats reupholstered in correct red leather and a new correct canvas soft top installed, both at Bud’s Benz in Douglasville, GA. Throughout his ownership, the car has consistent maintenance, evidenced by a thick stack of service receipts from local marque experts.

    It should come as no surprise then that the car is in fantastic shape mechanically. The original, numbers matching engine starts effortlessly, idles smoothly and consistently and pulls strongly through each of the original transmission’s gears. The car drives and brakes straight and true, the suspension is tight and the car is a joy to drive, whether tooling through town, winding through the canyons or bombing down the highway. The car is ideal for both top-down weekend cruises to local shows and more strenuous touring events. It needs nothing to be enjoyed save for an appreciative new owner.

    As the pictures show, the finish applied in 1984 has held up quite well and the car remains absolutely gorgeous. While having a number of minor imperfections (each insignificant enough to not appear in the pictures), the factory correct Black finish is deep and lustrous, perfectly offset by the lascivious red interior. The seats themselves appear almost new, the carpets are in good shape and the car retains its immaculate, uncracked original steering wheel and fully functioning Becker radio. The glass and chrome are in excellent original condition and while the car’s soft top shows some limited wear the rear window is clear and it remains entirely serviceable. Perhaps most notably, as the recipient of proper care and storage, the frame and undercarriage are entirely solid and original, showing no evidence of harmful rust or repairs. A condition mirrored in the trunk and engine compartment, it tells the story of a remarkably untouched, extremely original example that has always lived a charmed life.

    As meticulous an owner as you’ll find, the doctor comprehensively documented his 31 year ownership of the car including the aforementioned thick stack of service receipts, all of the sales documents from his acquisition of the car, an appraisal from just prior (describing the car as being in “exceptionally good condition”) and a range of technical data for the car. The car is also remarkably complete in terms of original tools, retaining its rare (and expensive to replace) original tool kit, spare tire and changing tools. The car also comes with its original data card, all of its original books and manuals and even the original packing slip from June of 1961. Finally, as mentioned above, the car will also come with either its original White big window hard top or a correct black big window hardtop as seen in the pictures.

    This is a truly uncommon opportunity to acquire an extremely original, entirely numbers matching and correct, well documented, extremely honest and beautifully presented 1961 Mercedes-Benz 190SL. Considering its condition, provenance, documentation and correctness, it would be incredibly difficult to find a similarly stellar original example. Whether in the market as a marque enthusiast or as a seasoned Mercedes collector, this incredible example deserves your serious consideration.

    Additional information

    Color

    Model Year