Mercedes Benz SL190 W121
Year of Manufacture: 1963
Power: 105 hp
Engine Displacement: 1,897 cm3
Number of Cylinders/Valves: 4/2
Weight: 1,080 kg
Condition: excellent
Catalog Number: 34
After World War II, the global industry was recovering from wartime production. It tried to quickly reorient itself toward civilian manufacturing but also aimed to successfully sell and capitalize on its products. The same was true in Germany, which had been totally devastated by the war and urgently needed to produce and sell goods.
“Whoever does not export will perish,” echoed through war-ravaged Europe. The domestic market was pushed to the back burner, while foreign currency and barter trades took priority. The greatest attention of exporters was naturally focused on countries with strong purchasing power—the first two post-war decades mainly targeted the United States. Their economy, crippled by the 1930s Great Depression, was revived by the war. However, from 1942 until the end of the fighting, they did not produce passenger cars. After the war, practically anything with wheels found a buyer on the “starved” market. And American automakers had no interest in sports cars—they simply didn’t make them.
Max Hoffman, an American importer of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, was aware of this. He convinced the MB board to develop an expensive, super-sporty model—the Gullwing. He also realized there was a need for a sort of people’s sports car for a broader clientele, preferably a convertible. Thus, the idea of the iconic 190 SL was born, which in its own way conquered America and shifted the brand’s image in the right direction.
The brief was simple: make it resemble the Gullwing as much as possible but with different technology and, most importantly, price. Development was incredibly fast. It was approved in September 1953. By February 1954, the first working prototype was exhibited at the New York Auto Show. The development took only 5 months! The car was still modified and its production version was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1955. Sales started in May of the same year.
The chassis was based on the production sedan 180 “Ponton.” It was shortened and modified, and the body was welded onto it. The engine hood, trunk lid, and doors were made of aluminum. Given British competition, great attention was paid to neat interior workmanship. Seats upholstered in artificial leather provided good support during cornering. For an extra charge, a third seat was installed, placed perpendicular to the direction of travel. The car could also be purchased with a fixed removable hardtop roof—initially aluminum, later metal.
Among the car’s advantages were precise shifting of the four synchronized gears, effective brakes, and agile handling. The latter, however, was more related to the chassis qualities than the engine performance. Acceleration from zero to 100 km/h in 14.5 seconds was rather average. The excellent driving characteristics were also due to the fact that the suspension design was quite similar to the Gullwing, which transmitted much higher power from its inline six-cylinder engine.
The engine in the 190 SL was newly designed. It was essentially 4 cylinders from the six-cylinder engine of the 300 SL. With a displacement of 1897 cm3, it produced 105 hp, featured an overhead camshaft (OHC), and a three-bearing crankshaft. It was not a super high-performance engine, but with a weight of 1080 kg it allowed a top speed of 170 km/h. There were attempts at racing versions and sporadic participation in motor racing. The car was not designed for this purpose, and although the company offered a racing kit for upgrades, only a few dozen kits were sold, and the 190 MB did not become a racing staple.
The car quickly won the hearts of customers, especially women. In the USA, it was even regarded as a sports car for ladies. It was also comfortable enough for a sports car. The fact that its designers accurately predicted customers’ tastes is evidenced by the few cosmetic improvements it underwent during its production from 1955 to 1963. Almost 26,000 units were produced in total.
Today, these cars are highly sought-after by collectors. The bigger brother, the MB 300 SL Gullwing, commands astronomical prices and is becoming unaffordable for the average collector. Therefore, the smaller MB 190 SL is experiencing a great renaissance, and its price has also begun to soar in recent years.
The car in our collection is from the last series produced. It has undergone a complete restoration and is in like-new condition.
