1958 | Mercedes-Benz 190 SL

This wonderful, superb driving original and rare RHD Mercedes Benz 190SL was last supplied by us in 2022 and has covered just a few hundred miles since. We fully serviced the SL, delivered it to Scotland and since then it’s had a brand new set of sunvisors and occasional good weather use. Due to change circumstances, its recent owner has unexpectantly decided to sell the car, along with a couple of others from his collection. Prior to this, the 190SL was with a local customer of ours in Pickering for sixteen years. Over this time, the SL covered over 26,000 miles and major long distance touring trips include the Mercedes Benz 190SL Days International meet in Stresa, Italy in 2008, Cannes and Monte Carlo in 2009, Salzburg, Austria in 2010, Portofini and Forte Dei Marmi, Italy in 2011, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy in 2014 and many UK tours and events including Mercedes Benz World 60th Anniversary Celebration at Brooklands in 2015. Having reliably and successfully toured Europe so many times, this is an SL that offers great confidence, and without doubt has proven to be a robust, reliable, and enjoyable long distance open top tourer.

The majority of 190SL's were built for the LHD market, and sourcing usable RHD examples can be extremely difficult. This car was supplied new RHD and is a matching numbers car with all its major components as it left the factory. A factory data card from Germany confirms all original numbers, and after leaving the factory in Germany, was exported to South Africa and by 1990 the car had made its way onto UK soil having been purchased in Johannesburg. The SL was purchased by a North West business owner, it was then owned by a Southeast London based Investment Banker before being re-purchased by its first UK owner. In 2006 it changed hands to our Pickering based customer before its two years north of the border in Scotland.

Since 2006 over £20,000 on maintenance and upkeep, ensuring the SL has been kept totally reliable, and usable always. Regular servicing has been key to reliability, and improvements and upkeep includes new wheel cylinders and flexi pipes, re-lined brake shoes, brake servo, adjuster pads, gear linkage bush kit, kingpins and top trunnions, front and rear adjustable shock absorbers, heater cable controls, re-conditioned radiator, stainless steel exhaust system, new fuel tank and pump, differential pinion oil seal and propshaft universal joint, electronic ignition, new throttle linkages, new timing chain, engine mounts and cylinder head work, Michelin tyres and 3 point seat belts. Cosmetic improvements include a new soft top, new windscreen, steering wheel, some re-chroming work, and also local paintwork keeping the appearance sharp. The more major mechanical upkeep such as engine work, gearbox bushes and brake and suspension work were carried out by Mercedes Benz expert Brian Gunney in South Wales.

WSJ 762 is an incredibly well sorted car that is ideal and more than capable of long-distance touring. We see so many SL's not driven extensively and finding cars like this is always difficult. The car is mechanically very strong, performs and handles incredibly well with a strong, fit engine, smooth gearbox and it feels lively, and fabulous fun to drive. The 190SL is structurally excellent, and its clear the car has spent most of its life in a dry climate. The underbody is rock solid, the body panels excellent, and its nicely aged, honest paintwork shows what a real ‘user' this car is. The interior is well presented with smart, aged leather trim, and with an excellent soft top, small window factory hardtop and original tool roll. This Mercedes Benz 190SL offers an excellent all round package.