Description
Imperial War Museum | Duxford, Cambridgeshire
Viewing: Tues 8th April from 12pm
Auction: Wed 9th April from 9am
Location: IWM Duxford Airfield, Cambridge CB22 4QR
1961 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL
Estimate
£60, 000 - £70, 000
Registration No: 173 UYT
Chassis No: the details below
MOT: Exempt
Imported to the United Kingdom from Canada in 2008
Presented in the highly attractive colour scheme of Mercedes White (DB050) with Red leather interior upholstery
Residing in current ownership since 2016
Much mechanical improvement while in the vendor’s custodianship
The 190SL was introduced in 1955 – the year Mercedes swept all before it on the Mille Miglia with the 300SLR. Indeed, the graceful convertible grand tourer was sold alongside the road-going version of the SLR – the 300SL - whose styling it strongly resembled. In fact, the underpinnings of the two cars were quite different and, while the 300SL had a purpose-built tubular spaceframe (W198), its smaller sibling was built on a shortened version of the ‘Ponton’ saloon (W121) platform, which was of monocoque construction. The 190SL also boasted an all-new engine - an over-square SOHC straight-four unit of 1897cc that produced some 120bhp, which was sufficient to propel the car to a maximum speed of 112mph. The engine was coupled to a manual four-speed gearbox. The suspension comprised double wishbones and coil springs at the front and a coil-sprung swing axle at the rear. Steering was by recirculating ball and braking by power-assisted drums all round. Built to the highest standards and among the quickest comparable cars of the time, the 190SL featured a well-appointed cockpit, notable comfort for its occupants and relatively generous luggage space. The 190SL continued in production until 1963, when both it and the 300SL were replaced by the 230SL (W113). By this time 25, 881 190SLs had been produced.
Manufactured in 1961, the 190 SL on offer is understood to have been supplied new to the home market of Germany and was finished from new in the highly attractive colour scheme of Mercedes White (DB050) paintwork with a Red leather interior upholstery, and a Black hood. Remaining in Germany until the 1970s before being exported to Canada, the 190SL was a resident of North America for approximately four decades before being offered in an RM auction in 2008. Chassis ‘the details below’ was thereafter imported to the United Kingdom, along with several others, remaining barn stored in a carcoon for the subsequent eight years upon arrival. Acquired by the vendor through another auction in 2016, the 190 SL was still unregistered at this time, with the vendor eventually getting the Mercedes road registered as ‘173 UYT’. Thoroughly recommissioned upon purchase, more recently the Mercedes-Benz has been uprated to run on unleaded in 2020, supplied with a re-cored radiator in the same year, and uprated to utilise Weber carburettors with a Gower & Lee conversion kit fitted by Woolmer Classic Engineering in 2022 to the cost of some £2, 800 in total. Covering a mere 500 miles while in the vendor's ownership, ‘173 UYT’ is supplied with a history file that includes the importation documentation, an inspection letter from the Mercedes-Benz Club, previous MOT certificates, an original owner’s manual, and current V5C document. Also accompanying are a spare set of wheels, the original jack, and the original warning triangle.
** Bidding will take place live at the venue, online via our H&H website, by telephone and commission - T&Cs apply**
Parking and entry into the auction is free for auction attendees with a catalogue, available at the door.
