Dismissed somewhat at its first showing as a concept at the New York Auto Show in 1954, the Mercedes-Benz 190SL was considered a poor relation to the spectacular 300SL and 300SLR race cars, on which it was visually based.

It was Mercedes-Benz’s first attempt to enter the Gran Turismo market with an affordable roadster and though built alongside the 300 Gullwings, it was predominantly a version of the 180 ‘Ponton’ sedan, with a shortened chassis and the same new overhead-cam, 104bhp, 1.9-litre petrol 4-cylinder engine.

The 190SL was a monocoque, but shared the independent suspension of the spaceframe 300, and whilst its style was pure racecar, many of the components were sourced from the more mundane parts bin of the saloon which had been launched in 1953.

Just under 26,000 SLs were built, in either detachable hardtop or convertible soft top versions between 1955 and 1963, with minor modifications every year of build. It’s pretty difficult to find a truly original car since the popularity of the chic roadster did not really blossom until the early 1990s, but it is reckoned that about a quarter of them still survive in one form or another.

The 190SL model was also known as the Nitribitt Mercedes as a result of a scandal in Germany in 1957, when a ‘Lady of Negotiable Virtue’ who bought one for herself, and would collect clients in it, was murdered! The case was never solved.

Fraser

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