Description
Offered for sale is an absolutely stunning, very original 1961 Mercedes-Benz 190SL finished in factory correct “Fire Engine Red” (DB534) over a tan leather interior with what is believed to be only 65k original miles (105,146 km) on its original, numbers matching engine. Originally purchased by an American officer stationed in Germany, the car followed him back to the states, eventually ending up in the hands of a Georgia schoolteacher in the 1980s.
The second owner’s pride and joy, the car was always meticulously maintained and cared for, a garage queen through and through. The schoolteacher retired to Florida in the 1990s and it’s around that time that he enlisted a local specialist to perform a mild cosmetic refurbishing while remaining mindful to preserve correctness and originality. The car received a high quality paint job in its original color, a new tan canvas soft top was installed and the interior was reupholstered in the tasteful tan leather and German square weave carpet that you see today. For the ensuing two decades the car remained his weekend driver, entered into car shows and taken to supper on Sunday evenings, until health issues forced him to part with it. Throughout the tenure of his ownership and that of the original owner before him, the car was never left to the elements and consequently the undercarriage and body are both original and entirely solid.
At some point in the 1980s the original Solex carburetors were switched out for aftermarket Mikunis, but the owner always kept all of the original equipment. While the car was nicely set up, in the interest of returning the car to originality our first order of business was to rebuild the original Solexs and reinstall all of the original equipment. I’m happy to report that the car runs flawlessly, idling consistently and pulling strongly and smoothly through each of the original transmission’s gears. The engine’s compression is excellent, there is no smoke, no odd noises or vibrations and the suspension and braking system function exactly as they should. The drive quality is incredibly tight, wholly indicative of a well-cared-for, low mileage example that can be driven anywhere. While it’s our opinion that the car’s far too nice to be a daily driver, its mechanicals would certainly allow for it.
Cosmetically, the pictures tell the tale – the car is absolutely gorgeous, the definition of a “head-turner”. The body is straight and the finish is consistent and lustrous, holding up beautifully despite its age. The glass and chrome are in excellent original condition, the rubber is free of dryness or shrinking and the car comes with the rare and desirable “big window” optional hardtop. The rich tan interior presents handsomely and is entirely correct, right down to the optional original “kinder-seat” in the back. The dash retains its original clock and radio and the steering wheel is in exceptional original condition. The undercarriage is original and solid – any visible discoloration is either road grime or old undercoating that’s flaking off due to wear, not rust – and the trunk is free of rust and retains its original spare wheel and changing tools.
This is an excellent opportunity to acquire an honest and stunning example of one of Mercedes’ most beautiful classic models. The car has all the right things going for it: a gorgeous original color combination, beautiful cosmetically, a solid original body and undercarriage, excellent mechanicals with an original, low mileage, numbers matching engine and transmission and a desirable optional hard top. With 190SLs continuing to appreciate at an amazing rate, this is an excellent investment and an example that deserves the consideration of any serious buyer.
