1963 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

Convertible

4 Cylinder 4 Speed

Manual

12104010024383

Clear

Gasoline

1963 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class 190SL, both hard and soft tops, one family ownership since 1965 11 new pictures added 9/16/14 at 5:30 EDT This car is apparently something of a rarity. The Mercedes 190SL was made from 1955 to 1963, but Mercedes stopped making them in February, 1963 after fewer than 300 had been made in 1963. This is one of very few 1963s. I believe I read something about a decade ago that led me to believe this car was manufactured in January, 1963, but I no longer remember where, but perhaps it can be checked using the VIN. VIN 12104010024383. Current mileage 150,000 miles. This car's history: When I was a freshman in college in Feb, 1965, my dad bought this car from its original owner. For the next 13 or so years, until he retired, he drove it 20 miles to work and 20 miles back in the suburbs of Washington, DC every day. Of this, only about 2 miles wasn't freeway. Maybe 2 to 4 times he drove it on longer trips of 200-500 miles one way, once with me to New Hampshire, and he and my mom would drive it to visit me in Baltimore, about 40 miles one way several times a year. But mostly after 1978 it was used for local driving. My parents usually had several other cars, but this was dad's baby. Starting about 1960, over the years they had a bunch of Mercedes, 1959 219, a 1958 219 originally bought for parts but then fixed up and used for more than a decade, a 1964 220SE bought in 1966, a 1965(?) 300SE Coupe, all purchased used, and a 1987 Toyota Camry purchased new (for my mom) and all except this long gone. The 1964 220SE was mostly my mom's car and the family car until the Camry. One day when the 190SL was about 20 years old, while it was parked in front of the house, my mother looked out the front window and told my dad to get out and put the roof up because it looked like it might rain. He thought he had left it up, but went out to the car and found that someone had apparently stolen the whole convertible top from the car while it was parked on the street. After that he didn't park it on the street for more than a few minutes at a time unless the hard top was on (usually from roughly October to April). However, he did manage to buy a new, and as far as I know, original Mercedes convertible top for it within a few months, and that is what is on it now. The clock was also stolen and never replaced. About 1999, dad began showing signs of memory loss and later dementia, but when he and mom came to visit, he still usually drove them in the 190SL. We kids learned to drive on the other Mercedes and could drive the other cars, but not this one. Sometime around 1980, I believe, dad got tired of dealing with the temperamental original twin-choke dual Solex carburetors and bought a simpler model and either installed it himself or had someone else do it. But he kept the original carburetor in a box in the basement, and I now have that in a box in my garage. It goes with the car and is probably restorable and quite possibly complete, but I don't know for sure. Dad did much of his own minor maintenance, but also had the car regularly serviced at Gunther's, in Clinton, Md, until Gunther died. Gunther was a Mercedes trained German Mercedes mechanic who opened his own shop in competition with Mercedes dealerships in the Washington area. After Gunther's death I believe he had most work done at local Mercedes dealers. When mom died in 2002, dad moved into assisted living, and I inherited the car. He had kept it under cover in a carport (with a roof but no sides). I have kept it in a garage since I got it. I have generally driven it with my wife and/or daughter on leaf drives or to visit parks at distances of 5 to 75 miles away 3-6 times a year since then, less in the past 4 years. I taught my daughter to drive stick shift in this car after she had taken a driver ed course and learned to drive, but I am the only one who has driven it solo since I inherited it. I keep the convertible top on and I have the hard top stored in my garage. I had it inspected when I got it just to check its condition, even though as an historic car, it does not require Maryland State Inspection to buy or sell it. I had a new water pump put in a few years ago because the old one had gotten a bit noisy. The car was originally red, but has been repainted at least once in more or less the original color. As far a I know all parts are original Mercedes parts except maybe the new carburetor, though the original red leather seat material has been gone for decades. And I believe my dad told me that he had to have some brake line parts custom made in the 1990s since they were no longer made by Mercedes. He had a new generator or starter put in sometime about 2000 and had to wait 6 months or more for it to come from Germany through the dealership. But I don't know all the intimate details of the car's life since I haven't lived with my parents since college. Soon after he bought it Dad installed an anti-theft device, which I can describe to the purchaser, and which may have prevented theft of the whole car instead of just the convertible top. I do recall that it was in an accident in the 1980s. Its right fender guard is missing but I have an original replacement part right fender guard and an extra turn signal light globe or two plus a tailpipe (from Hemmings?) and possibly some other spare parts, hubcaps, wheels, lights, etc. The extra tailpipe, fender guard and boxed original carburetor are included with the car. Other spare parts are negotiable. Somewhere I have an original 1962 manual which I bought on ebay after I inherited the car. I couldn't find a 1963 and as far as I know it didn't have the manual when Dad bought it. If I can find the 1962 manual, I will include it. When I tried to start the car this spring, it turned over nicely, and after several tries, started and ran hesitantly for about 20-30 seconds and died. After that I tried a couple times more and it turned over very well, but wouldn't start. I took it to the local mechanic who had worked on it before and he fixed it that afternoon and it is now running nicely again. It likes premium gas with octane booster added. Dad used to use Amoco super premium white (unleaded) gas back when that was the only unleaded gas available. When I got it, I used Sunoco 94, which worked nicely, but Sunoco no longer sells it around here. Since then, I have had to use the highest octane I can find, usually 92, with octane booster added. When I had the car inspected in 2002, I was told it had some rust on the frame, but it shouldn't be a problem for occasional local driving and garage storage, and that it needed some work on the brakes. I had the brakes done and I bought new tires for it and I have put less than 2000 miles on the car in the last 12 years. I would suggest having the car transported unless it is purchased locally. It hasn't been driven more than 10-15 miles at a time for several years. The car must be paid in full before it is released. If someone has a Tesla in good working order that they would like to trade even for this classic Mercedes roadster, that will probably take it unless ebay bidding goes significantly higher than I expect. Then again, I've never seen a 1963 190SL for sale on ebay. But I suspect I will have to settle for cash. Buyer must make arrangements to pickup or ship the car, which is located in Baltimore, Maryland. Any questions? Send me an email. Also see my other auctions and my feedback. SALE TERMS Deposit within 48 hours; certified funds in my bank before releasing car for delivery (within 7 days of auction end). Buyer pays shipping cost. Buyers with negative or zero ratings must email Seller prior to bidding. Prospective buyers are cautioned to conduct their own due diligence, including a physical inspection in person through a qualified third party inspector or appraiser prior to bidding. Buyer is responsible for any inspection charges and fees. Every effort has been made to accurately and fairly describe this vehicle to you. Seller has disclosed all information known about this vehicle for auction. Seller is not responsible for any typographical errors of any kind in the description of this advertised vehicle. This vehicle is being sold "as is". It is the responsibility of the buyer to have thoroughly inspected the vehicle, and to have satisfied himself or herself as to the condition and value and to bid based upon that judgment solely. No representations or warranties are made by seller, nor are any representations or warranties relied upon by bidders in making bids. Note: In the question below, I said that the 1962 manual I have it says that a 1962 has a lever turn signal but this car's turn signals operate by rotating the inner ring on the steering wheel. Actually, that is the reverse. This car has a lever to operate the turn signal but the manual says a 1962's turn signals operate by rotating the inner ring on the steering wheel. I got it backwards in my response to the inquiry. This car DOES have a lever to operate the turn signal, unlike what the 1962 manual says.