This 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL was acquired by the current owner in 2001, and it is powered by a 1.9-liter inline-four equipped with dual Weber carburetors and paired with a four-speed manual transmission. The car is finished in white over red leather and equipment includes a black soft top, 13″ steel wheels with hubcaps, and a vintage-look digital radio. This 190SL is now offered by the seller on behalf of the current owner with the owner’s manual, service records, spare parts, and a clean Wisconsin title in the name of the owner’s family trust.
Finished from the factory in black (DB4), the car was repainted white under prior ownership and was fitted with a replacement black soft top in the mid-2000s. Additional equipment includes a matching top boot, a driver-side mirror, and a bright windshield surround, grille, and bumpers. The seller notes various chips and blemishes around the body.
Body-color steel 13″ wheels wear chrome trim rings, hubcaps, and 185/80 Firestone tires. The car is equipped with a double-wishbone front suspension, rear swing axles with coil springs, and power-assisted drum brakes. The brake booster was rebuilt and the master cylinder and reservoir replaced in August 2020.
The low-back bucket seats were reupholstered in red leather and replacement carpets were installed in 2005. Interior amenities include lap belts, an analog clock, a vintage-look digital radio, and a dashboard-mounted rearview mirror.
The two-spoke steering wheel frames VDO instrumentation including a 140-mph speedometer and a 7k-rpm tachometer as well as gauges for oil pressure, water temperature, and fuel level. The five-digit odometer shows 53k miles, approximately 19k of which were added under current ownership.
The 1.9-liter M121 inline-four was factory rated at 104 horsepower and 105 lb-ft of torque and has been fitted with dual Weber carburetors. Work in 2020 included adjusting the valves, rebuilding the generator and throttle linkage, and replacing the generator wiring harness and spark plugs. The radiator was cleaned in 2021.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a fully synchronized four-speed manual transmission. The rear differential fluid was flushed in 2023. Patches on the floors are viewable in the gallery.
Chassis number 121042109501113 is shown above, while the title lists the VIN as 1210429501113.