1963 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL

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Details

is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely magnificent 1963 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL.

The ‘Fahrzeug-Daten’ (factory data card) and ‘Produktions-Auftrag’ (factory production order) on file confirms that this factory right hand drive example was ordered new in New Zealand late 1962. It was in fact the 61st Mercedes-Benz ordered from New Zealand that year. The car left the factory on the 21st May 1963, which would make this one of the very last 190 SL’s built.

The car was ordered in black (paint code 040) with a red interior (interior code 203) with single seats (option code 401). It was delivered with a roadster hard top (option code 413), US style front bumper with guards (option code 441), instruments in English and miles (option code 461), outside left and right rear view mirrors (option code 506) a Becker Brescia radio (option code 512), rear seats (option code 565), lights for left hand traffic (option code 613), export license plate (option code 621), whitewall tyres (option code 641), documentation in English (option code 681), a folding fabric soft top in grey (option code 736) and 10 litres of fuel (option code 317).

Documentation on file notes that the first owner was a Mr RA Stone from Auckland in New Zealand. At some stage the car found its way to Australia and into the ownership of Dr Frank Munro from Sydney, NSW. The car was sold to Mr Lachlan (Jim) Attrill from Sunshine, Victoria in March 1978. In May 1979 the car was registered in Victoria as ADP-112 and by August 1982 it was registered as BLE-701.

The third owner was a well known Melbourne based classic car enthusiast who acquired the car at the 1998 Shannon’s Grand Prix auction. At that time the car was still finished in its original colour of black.

After he acquired the car, it was taken off the road in preparation for a major restoration. The project commenced in earnest and he embarked on a nut and bolt rotisserie restoration on a mission to make the car ‘as good as it could be’.

The body was restored and painted by Peter Todd at Mentone Smash Repairs in Moorabbin. A major decision for the car’s then owner was the colour. He chose to paint the car in ‘Porsche Speed Yellow’, which was a brave but fabulous choice. The engine block and head were rebuilt by Engine Action in Flemington. The engine was reassembled by Maurie Dodd.

The painted body shell was completed in March 2001 and the rebuild began.

The restoration was completed in September 2001and the car was then registered in Victoria as GEM-SL, just in time for the Mercedes-Benz ACT Concours d’Elegance held in Canberra. The car was incredibly well received and it won four trophies, including Best in Class, Runner Up – Champion of Champions, Best Paint and Best Engine Bay.

The car was a multi concours winner at both the Victorian and ACT Mercedes-Benz Club Concours d’Elegance over the next four years.

The current owner acquired this car in circa 2009 and has used it sparingly throughout his ownership.

Incredibly this Mercedes-Benz 190SL still presents as a freshly restored car, which is a testament to the quality of the restoration. Everything about this car is impeccable!

The first thing you notice is the colour. The yellow paint work is such a refreshing change from the ubiquitous white, silver or red. Whilst it looks stunning in the photos, it looks even better in the flesh! The paint work remains fresh and vibrant with an incredibly strong depth of colour. We struggled to find any blemishes in the paint. Even the hubcaps, which are prone to stone chips are in excellent condition. All of the external trim, including the chrome, lights and lenses are similarly well presented.

Completing the look is a factory hard top finished in pearl white. The soft top is black and in excellent unused condition.

The interior of the car is also beautifully presented. The red upholstery provides a perfect colour contrast to the yellow paintwork, particularly the dash. All of the instruments and controls, including the delicate trade mark Mercedes-Benz steering wheel present like new. Everything looks to be in working order.

Under the bonnet, the engine looks fresh and as though it was installed yesterday. Importantly, everything still looks to be correct.

It is likely that the boot has hardly seen the light of day and probably never carried any luggage. Like the rest of the car it is in exceptional condition. There is a spare wheel, jack and tool kit.

Even the underside of the car still presents like new!

Clearly this car has had little use since it was restored. It presents today like it has been stored in a glass case! Importantly, the current owner does regularly start the car and when the sun comes out just every now and then it gets some exercise.

On our recent test drive the car started easily from cold. There was a slight concern that this car may drive like a ‘garage queen’, but after a few very short miles that possibility was well and truly put to rest. The car drove superbly. The engine pulls strongly through the rev range and the gearbox is firm and precise. Importantly there are no rattles or squeaks. The more we drove it the better it went!

Highlights:

New Zealand delivered, factory RHD example.
Four owner car that’s been in Australia for most of its life.
Matching numbers.
Restored to a concours standard by the previous owner.
Multi concours d’elegance trophy winner.
Ready show, use and enjoy.

Was für ein auto. . . einfach umwerfend!

Price: $349,950.

 

Background

Following the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Europe’s car industry was decimated. In Germany both Daimler and Benz went back to producing cars post-war, however, times were tough. A merger between Daimler and Benz would ensure that both companies survived and following a technical co-operation agreement in 1924, the companies formally merged on the 1st July 1926. Mercedes-Benz was born!

Subsequently, Mercedes-Benz went on to build some of the greatest cars of all time. The cars from Stuttgart bearing the three-pointed star all had one thing in common . . . they were renowned for their technical innovation, build quality, luxury and performance.

In the 1950’s Mercedes Benz produced one of the greatest cars of all time – the iconic 300 SL Gullwing and 300 SL Coupe. Whilst fabulous cars, they were very expensive and generally sold to the rich and famous. Mercedes wanted to build a sporting luxury car that still looked classical in the mould of the 300 SL, but it had to be affordable and the plan was to build such a car in far greater numbers than the exclusive 300 SL’s. Enter the Type W121 or 190 SL as it became known in the mid 1950’s. This model was an outstanding success and circa 25,000 cars were built over the next 8 years of production. The formula worked and Mercedes Benz carried it on with great success in the 1960’s with the Type W113 230 SL/250 SL/280 SL models. This evolved into the Type R107/C107 280 SL(C)/350 SL(C)/380 SL(C)/450 SL(C) models built throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s.

Mercedes-Benz marketed the 190 SL as “ . . . as sports car for all seasons”.

To quote their website:

“ . . . Sporting elegance, safety and comfort – with these qualities the 190 SL  conquered a whole new circle of enthusiastic fans of dynamic driving.  Mercedes-Benz unveiled the prototype of the 190 SL (W 121) at the International Motor Sports Show in New York in February 1954, alongside the production version of the 300 SL “Gullwing”. Although the two-seater roadster with folding soft top stirred passions, it was to undergo a further thorough revision by the Mercedes-Benz designers – known at the time as stylists.”

In March 1955, a full year after the New York premiere, the production version went on display at the Geneva Motor Show. Like its elder brother, the spectacular 300 SL “Gullwing”, the 190 SL rapidly became one of the most coveted dream cars of its day. Although less powerful than the 300 SL, it generated no less excitement and opened up the SL legend to a wider circle of customers. By 1963 sales had totalled 25,881 units.

And even long-distance drives were enjoyable thanks to the comfortable suspension. The handsome sports car for all occasions was particularly popular among female drivers, who appreciated not only the sporting elegance of its design, but also the open-air feeling that came as standard. With its easy-to-operate soft top and optionally available coupé hardtop, the 190 SL was the first SL to combine the possibility of open-top driving with absolute all-weather capability.”

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$349,950