Mercedes 190SL (1959): classic driving test and video
Posted on 18-10-2014 at 18:00 by CasperH – 32 Comments”
A Mercedes 190SL from 1959. To make an understatement: this is one of the most beautiful cars ever made. And we went for a ride.
The Mercedes 190SL is often “the little brother of the 300SL”, something easy to understand if you look at the similarities in styling of the two cars looks. However, there are subcutaneous some major differences. Where the 300SL at the time, revolutionary W198 platform was built, the 190 SL on a shortened W121 platform. The W121 platform was in the fifties used as the basis for the Mercedes Ponton, a volumemodel of the brand. The shortened W121, which served as the basis for the 190SL was renamed R121.
In addition to the difference in the chassis, there was also a difference in motorization: the 190SL had a 1.9 litre, four-cylinder in-line engine under the hood that was good for 105 hp. This block was in fact identical to the six-cylinder engine in the 300SL under the hood, but minus two cylinders. The dual Solex carburetors were difficult adjustable and made sure that the 190SL a bad reputation received regarding the motor. These were not always as smooth as you would expect of an expensive convertible.
A manual controlled gearbox was standard. You could be the Mercedes 190SL order with soft top or a removable hard-top. The third chair (where have we seen this before?) was barely large enough for a pigmee without legs.
The car that we have has a reading of mileage of 29,000 miles but what is more important is to report the mileage after restoration: approximately 6,000 kilometres has this car after that time only made. The quality of the restoration is very beautiful, probably because the previous owner who, with the help of specialists has done. The car is fully matching numbers, which means that the engine and chassis still in the same harmony, living together as when they in June 1959 in New York the dealer’s left.
The previously mentioned difficult reputation as far as the bad running motors is in any case not noticeable in this instance. The four-cylinder engine isn’t happy and the manual gearbox with four gears works smoothly and precisely. Given the relatively low number of pk’s and the basis of the Mercedes Ponton you might expect that this car is not inviting to firm steering. Of course the car is very much in his element as a cruiser, but still invites the 190SL, but also to the gas, have a nice flooring. Steering is also more direct and more precise than I had expected. The brakes require a solid input but provide enough stopping power and no surprises. In short: nothing is against for such a old thing!
During the restoration, where possible, the original sheet metal is retained, which in practice means that the doors, the hood and the same boot is still original. The car after the restoration painted in light blue metallic. Originally, it was the darker color, the car is the factory hatched in the color Graphitgrau with a red leather interior. All of the accounts and a full photo report of the restoration are in the car, which for €109.000 euro for sale at Gina Classics.
Gallery: Mercedes 190SL 1959
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