Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster, 1961
Mercedes-Benz 190 SL R121
Mercedes-Benz 190 SL R121•
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Chassis No.: 12104010020833
Auction: Monterey 2022
Auction date: August 20, 2022
Lot No.: S116
$123,750 | Sold
- Exterior: White
- Interior: Black
- Body: Roadster
- Odometer shows 67,000 miles
- Matching numbers
- 1.9L inline SOHC 4-cylinder engine
- 4-speed manual transmission
- White exterior
- Black convertible top
- Hardtop included
- New tires
- Recently serviced
- Black leather interior
- Carpet replaced in 1988
Mercedes-Benz made its first postwar foray into mainline sports racing in 1952 with the first 300SL coupes, internally designated W194, entering three in that year’s Mille Miglia, where Karl Kling finished second and Rudolph Carraciola fourth. Limited by Mercedes-Benz’s still-modest budgets, Chief Engineer Rudi Uhlenhaut had drawn heavily from the production 300S model for his lightweight sports racers, including its independent front and rear suspensions, 4-speed gearbox and oversized drum brakes. Uhlenhaut then designed a lightweight thin-tube space frame to host those pedestrian components and enveloped them in a thin-gauge aluminum body.
The ensuing 300SL laid waste to the competition, attracting worldwide acclaim and the attention of New York automotive importer Max Hoffman. Known as “the Baron of Park Avenue,” Hoffman convinced Mercedes-Benz to produce a road version of the W194 for his wealthy American clientele. The resulting 300SL Gullwing coupe was only half of Hoffman’s plan, however; the other half was a more affordable roadster variation on the SL theme: the 190SL. Unveiled alongside the Gullwing coupe at the 1954 New York Motor Show, the 190SL shared the 300SL coupe’s styling in a more compact package comprising a sophisticated new OHC 4-cylinder engine, all-independent suspension and racing-inspired drum brakes.
Solidly engineered and well-built, the 190SL also boasted a top-quality interior with superb upholstery and detailing. Sparingly driven and now showing a low 67,000 miles, this 1961 190SL has been with a single owner since 1985. It is a matching-numbers example pairing white paint with a black convertible top and black leather interior. Recently serviced, it is offered with new radial tires and factory books.
https://www.mecum.com/lots/520675/1961-mercedes-benz-190sl-roadster/
