The 190SL (W121) was launched by Mercedes-Benz at the 25th International Motor Show in Geneva in March 1955. It was pitched as a more affordable alternative to its ‘elder sibling’ the Mercedes-Benz 300SL “Gullwing” (W198) 1954, coming in at half the price. Together, these cars paved the way for the successful Mercedes-Benz SL tradition – culminating in the current AMG-SL (R232). The development of the 190SL roadster was defined by Austrian-born, New York-based Max Hoffman, who imported luxury European cars to the USA in the 1950s. Hoffman would make suggestions to Mercedes about what he believed the American market wanted. This led to the sales success of the 300SL, with more than 80% of the 300SL’s total production run of 1,400 sold in America. Hoffman was instrumental in changing the company’s image in America, from a manufacturer of solid but staid luxury automobiles to one capable of rendering high-performance sports cars. The Gullwing Coupé was based on a complex space frame chassis. In contrast, the 190SL Cabriolet had the shortened floor assembly of the 180 Saloon model (W120), paired with the additional self-supporting chassis-body structure. The car was designed as both comfortable and alluring – an open-top, two-seater for stylish travel. Mercedes Engineers Karl Wilfert and Walter Häcker designed the body with sporty lines, reminiscent of the 300SL. The 190SL was powered by the newly developed M121, a 77 kW (105 hp) 1.9-litre four-cylinder engine with an overhead camshaft. Its top speed was a respectable 170 km/h – more than adequate for the roads of the fifties and sixties. Production of the 190SL commenced in 1955. Upon release, the car set an international standard for a culture of comfortable travel with sporty elegance. The sports 190SL enjoyed its finest hour in 1956 at the Macao Sportscar Grand Prix which was an event initiated by the Daimler-Benz importer from Hong Kong. In the event, the RHD version of the roadster came first, winning against a Ferrari Mondial, a diverse range of Jaguars and Austin Healeys. 25,881 units had been built by the time production ceased in 1963, most of which were dispatched to America. Of those produced, only 6% were RHD making the 190SL on offer extremely rare. The sale of the 190SL in the US was a crucial part of re-framing the American consciousness of Germany after WWII. This car embodies all the optimism and elegance of the 1950s, epitomising what we think of as ‘classic’. This example was one of only 30 built in RHD in 1963 and is currently displaying a mileage of 33,081 miles, although how many times around the clock this is we aren’t sure. Our current owner purchased the car in April 1987 at 98,047 miles. New Zealand new, this car has always been garaged. Additions include a new soft top, new carpet fitted in 2018, a spare and partial toolkit are also present along with new tyres and a period Becker radio. The car has had some panels resprayed in 2002, although the general paintwork has a nice patina of age to it. It has been regularly serviced with evidence of this documented. Before the flat lines of the 230SL became popular, the Mercedes-Benz 190SL had curves in all the right places. It coyly winks with all the glamour of the 300SL without the multi-million dollar price tag. For sale by Webb's Auctions. Auckland, New Zealand 14 August 2022 at 2pm. Please see our full catalogue online at webbs.co.nz
