1962 Mercedes-Benz 190-Series

Coupe

4 - Cyl.

Manual

190SLB023966

Clear

Gasoline

Offered for auction is a 98% original 1962 Mercedes 190SL with aluminum hard top, soft top frame, all ephemera that came with the car and extra chrome parts. The exterior is graphite gray with red leather interior. I have owned the car since 1969 when it was purchased with 14,000 miles. I drove it actively until 1980, minus two years while in Europe. The odometer broke a few years after purchase but I estimate it has no more than 65K miles total and about 8K on the engine since a valve job in 1976. It has been garaged since 1980 and was started infrequently, the last time around 1991. There is some surface rust but the frame is solid. It will need a good soda blasting although metal replacement should be minimal. The only places on the body I have found to be rusted through are around the right headlight well and a small spot on the driver’s side floor beneath the accelerator. The car was in a minor fender bender in 1975, that required the nose panel be replaced and the left front fender area be rebuilt. It has never been rolled or in a serious accident. I have spare front and rear bumper guards, an extra hubcap, spare wheel (not pictured in trunk), the original Bilstein jack and lug wrench. The engine block is solid and there is no trace of water in the oil pan. I recently hooked up a battery and the electrical system works but the starter solenoid needs to be replaced. Lights, wipers, etc. are working. At this time, the left front brake caliper is locked and I do not have the tool to work on it. Also, the butterfly valve of the first Solex carb is sticking and these will need to be rebuilt. I was told in 1980 that it would need a steering box and new engine and transmission mounts. Much of the interior leather is still supple and would probably come up nicely with a cleaning and dye application. The seats can be stitched but the dashboard leather should be replaced. Carpeting is also shot and should be replaced. It has a Becker Europa AM/FM radio and the desirable dash-mounted 8-day wind up clock (still working). All window glass is free of chips and cracks. The car has the aluminum hard top with the wide view rear window. The felt headliner is intact and only needs a good cleaning. I have the aluminum soft top frame and have cleared it of its old canvas. It will need new wooden bows but still has all chrome fittings and aluminum handle. I also saved the rear tensioning wire and the decorative chrome strip for the rear bow. I managed to retain all of the original books and papers that came with the car in their original M-B embossed plastic case. These include the owner’s manual, parts catalog booklet with exploded diagrams, service schedule booklet (with supplement), catalog of all M-B service centers in the Western hemisphere (with supplement and full color map of N. and S. America with centers indicated), Becker radio instructions, catalog of Becker service centers, booklet of warranty tickets for radio service (apparently including free tube replacement!) and the unsent Becker warranty postcard. I also have all three original keys. I am opening this auction to U.S. and Canadian bidders only. I have placed a low reserve that I feel to be reasonable. Please do not bid if you have a feedback score of less than 99% or have fewer than 25 Ebay transactions. I am proud of my 100% rating and wish to keep it that way so please ask any questions before bidding. As the car is not running, pick-up and shipping will be the buyer’s responsibility, as are all taxes and associated fees. A deposit of $1,000 via PayPal is due within 48 hours of the close of the auction with the balance due in seven days via cashier’s check. There are assuredly very few 190SLs that have had a 41-year custodianship with one owner who can attest to its provenance. Once restored, the winner will have one of the most original examples of this model in existence. Thank you for looking and good luck!