Mercedes 190SL
Discussion
Hello All,
I am looking for a RHD 190SL. I have searched PH for nuggets of information to help inform my purchase and would be grateful for any advice from current or former owners. It would also be useful to know how values have changed over the past few years and where they are at present.
Thanks in advance for your help.
David
I am looking for a RHD 190SL. I have searched PH for nuggets of information to help inform my purchase and would be grateful for any advice from current or former owners. It would also be useful to know how values have changed over the past few years and where they are at present.
Thanks in advance for your help.
David
Very pretty cars, but under powered and restoration costs are high. Buy the best you can afford, but all of the U.K. supplied batch will have rotted and had “some resto “ work. Tread carefully and get a car inspected.
If I were looking for one, I would source a LHD car. I tried to buy a rough one, that sat for some years in Stoke Newington in the mid 80s, then one day it had gone.
If I were looking for one, I would source a LHD car. I tried to buy a rough one, that sat for some years in Stoke Newington in the mid 80s, then one day it had gone.
Thanks for your views and advice. I spoke to Hilton and Moss the other day and was interested in their current barn find, which will undoubtedly be the RHD benchmark after its restoration but at £200+k I’d be frightened of taking it out. I’m aware of the rust issues but since it won’t be seeing any more water I don’t suppose it’ll get any worse and with a budget of £120k I’d hope to avoid the worst examples.
I’m hoping that someone here will have had experience of owning one of these and can give me a flavour of the problems I might face.
Vpr, i personally love the look of these cars. The ugliest car on the road? The 911 by some margin imho. But these matters are hugely subjective and I’m glad we don’t all want the same thing. I look forward to some gentle cruising in the country lanes in this little beauty....savour the journey!
I’m hoping that someone here will have had experience of owning one of these and can give me a flavour of the problems I might face.
Vpr, i personally love the look of these cars. The ugliest car on the road? The 911 by some margin imho. But these matters are hugely subjective and I’m glad we don’t all want the same thing. I look forward to some gentle cruising in the country lanes in this little beauty....savour the journey!
Very beautiful car all together.
Sadly very expensive spareparts and expensive to keep and maintain.
It is always and everywhere in competition to a 300SL, which it can´t win.
Especially taking into account that the engine is very disappointing. It can be made quicker, but still is quite dull.
But it is by far not as slow as people make you believe.
Lovely and comfortable to cruise in. Great suspension and gearbox. Great and easy to operate roof, even while driving.
A lot of space for luggage, a third passenger or a very very big dog.
Beware of parts missing and (hidden) rust, rust, rust. Very expensive to restore.
Good news is all parts are available.
I would recommend to get a drive in one and directly compare it, for example, to an XK140 DHC.
In my experience the XKs are far more rewarding to own and drive.
I don´t like the look of the Pagode, but maybe you should check them out as well.
Sadly very expensive spareparts and expensive to keep and maintain.
It is always and everywhere in competition to a 300SL, which it can´t win.
Especially taking into account that the engine is very disappointing. It can be made quicker, but still is quite dull.
But it is by far not as slow as people make you believe.
Lovely and comfortable to cruise in. Great suspension and gearbox. Great and easy to operate roof, even while driving.
A lot of space for luggage, a third passenger or a very very big dog.
Beware of parts missing and (hidden) rust, rust, rust. Very expensive to restore.
Good news is all parts are available.
I would recommend to get a drive in one and directly compare it, for example, to an XK140 DHC.
In my experience the XKs are far more rewarding to own and drive.
I don´t like the look of the Pagode, but maybe you should check them out as well.
DavesBentley said:
I spoke to Hilton and Moss the other day and was interested in their current barn find, which will undoubtedly be the RHD benchmark after its restoration but at £200+k I’d be frightened of taking it out. I’m aware of the rust issues but since it won’t be seeing any more water I don’t suppose it’ll get any worse ....and with a budget of £120k...
Whoaah right there buddy!!You are going to spend £120k on a 190SL?
Sit down and have a nice cup of tea. These things were never much cop. They were rust-prone, underpowered, poor handling buckets, whose bulbous looks were intended to reflect the glory of the 300SL’s. At £25k it’s fun. But it is not and never was a £120k car. Just the same way as they try to charge £50k for a Triumph TR5 these days, or £10k for a Morris Minor. It’s not worth it. It’s a cheaply built crap little car for the masses, in the case of the 190SL one for the ladies, or the hairdressers. In Germany they used to be referred to as Nitribitt Wagen, after a call girl called Rosemarie Nitribitt who was I seem to recall owned one in the late 50’s, and was gruesomely murdered in it. Rather took the shine off them.
If you have £120k to spend I urge you to spend it on something worth owning. Why don’t you buy a 2010 DBS Volante (a low volume quality supercar which is really worth having) and you will have change left over to buy a nice low mileage W230 or W231 500SL with all the toys as a daily driver, as well as a serious panic shop at M&S. If blowsy 50’s is your bag get a top Jaguar XK150, which is at least a serious car.
A 190SL for £120k, just no. DON’T DO IT, MAN!
Edited by cardigankid on Tuesday 31st March 21:03
Blimey Cardigankid!
Thank you for your concern about my welfare! I am no petrolhead but the years and years of driving old fords and family wagons are finally coming to an end. I waft around in my (old) Continental GTC and on summer days cut about in my E type series 1 roadster. Then it’s back to my youth in my 635CSi....cheap and cheerful but plenty of bang for your buck. The 190SL is about experiencing a different era and manufacturer (I love jags and have thought about the Mk2 or an XK). Sure if money were no problem I’d buy a 300SL but this is a pretty good substitute.
Thanks Griffithy
Plenty of food for thought there. Hopefully I’ve explained above why this is what I’m looking for. I can’t see myself doing more than a few hundred miles a year in it and if maintenance is comparable to the E type it should be relatively straightforward...and frankly quite good fun. I’m not going back to the days of changing the timing belt on my Capri out in the street on a freezing cold January day as the light is fading!
Thank you for your concern about my welfare! I am no petrolhead but the years and years of driving old fords and family wagons are finally coming to an end. I waft around in my (old) Continental GTC and on summer days cut about in my E type series 1 roadster. Then it’s back to my youth in my 635CSi....cheap and cheerful but plenty of bang for your buck. The 190SL is about experiencing a different era and manufacturer (I love jags and have thought about the Mk2 or an XK). Sure if money were no problem I’d buy a 300SL but this is a pretty good substitute.
Thanks Griffithy
Plenty of food for thought there. Hopefully I’ve explained above why this is what I’m looking for. I can’t see myself doing more than a few hundred miles a year in it and if maintenance is comparable to the E type it should be relatively straightforward...and frankly quite good fun. I’m not going back to the days of changing the timing belt on my Capri out in the street on a freezing cold January day as the light is fading!
Edited by DavesBentley on Tuesday 31st March 21:26
Just trying to help.
I checked, she bought herself a black 190SL with red upholstery, and she wasn’t murdered in it, she was strangled in her apartment apparently by an acquaintance called Heinz Pohlmann who somehow escaped justice. She seems to have been an unfortunate little girl who had a lot of bad breaks then found that she could live very well by turning tricks for prominent and rich men. Then was murdered at the age of 24. Poor girl, RIP.
On the 190SL, surely there are other things which would scratch the itch? What about a tip-top Jensen Interceptor III, or try to find a Jowett Jupiter.
I checked, she bought herself a black 190SL with red upholstery, and she wasn’t murdered in it, she was strangled in her apartment apparently by an acquaintance called Heinz Pohlmann who somehow escaped justice. She seems to have been an unfortunate little girl who had a lot of bad breaks then found that she could live very well by turning tricks for prominent and rich men. Then was murdered at the age of 24. Poor girl, RIP.
On the 190SL, surely there are other things which would scratch the itch? What about a tip-top Jensen Interceptor III, or try to find a Jowett Jupiter.
cardigankid said:
DavesBentley said:
I spoke to Hilton and Moss the other day and was interested in their current barn find, which will undoubtedly be the RHD benchmark after its restoration but at £200+k I’d be frightened of taking it out. I’m aware of the rust issues but since it won’t be seeing any more water I don’t suppose it’ll get any worse ....and with a budget of £120k...
Whoaah right there buddy!!You are going to spend £120k on a 190SL?
Sit down and have a nice cup of tea. These things were never much cop. They were rust-prone, underpowered, poor handling buckets, whose bulbous looks were intended to reflect the glory of the 300SL’s. At £25k it’s fun. But it is not and never was a £120k car. Just the same way as they try to charge £50k for a Triumph TR5 these days, or £10k for a Morris Minor. It’s not worth it. It’s a cheaply built crap little car for the masses, in the case of the 190SL one for the ladies, or the hairdressers. In Germany they used to be referred to as Nitribitt Wagen, after a call girl called Rosemarie Nitribitt who was I seem to recall owned one in the late 50’s, and was gruesomely murdered in it. Rather took the shine off them.
If you have £120k to spend I urge you to spend it on something worth owning. Why don’t you buy a 2010 DBS Volante (a low volume quality supercar which is really worth having) and you will have change left over to buy a nice low mileage W230 or W231 500SL with all the toys as a daily driver, as well as a serious panic shop at M&S. If blowsy 50’s is your bag get a top Jaguar XK150, which is at least a serious car.
A 190SL for £120k, just no. DON’T DO IT, MAN!
Edited by cardigankid on Tuesday 31st March 21:03
I'd agree with your sentiments if the OP had asked "can you recommend me a classic open sports car, which has great performance and handling - I've got a 100 grand to throw at it and quite like the idea of a 190". Then yes, I get the response. But he knows what he's getting into.
Edited by Dapster on Tuesday 31st March 21:37
Hi David,
Assuming that you are tracking the usual sources such as C&C and here, you may want to also look at the auction houses. Historics are a good option, but all the main houses are still trying to run auctions online even in these unusual times. I have a Pagoda that i bought through Silverstone's a couple of years ago and unlike the trade sellers where the prices range up to £200k + as per Hemmels mentioned above, the auction prices are more realistic and a truer reflection of value. I tend to track the old SL Merc prices and I know of one RHD 190sl in very good order (per description and pics) that went through at well under £100k in the last 12 months, although I can't locate the auction house it went through now. Yes, RHDs do come up at auction once or twice a year, and most seem to have been well looked after unlike a lot of the w113's and R107's that go through auction. Despite other peoples reservations (polite term), there is a lot to like about them. Hope you track one down
Peter
Assuming that you are tracking the usual sources such as C&C and here, you may want to also look at the auction houses. Historics are a good option, but all the main houses are still trying to run auctions online even in these unusual times. I have a Pagoda that i bought through Silverstone's a couple of years ago and unlike the trade sellers where the prices range up to £200k + as per Hemmels mentioned above, the auction prices are more realistic and a truer reflection of value. I tend to track the old SL Merc prices and I know of one RHD 190sl in very good order (per description and pics) that went through at well under £100k in the last 12 months, although I can't locate the auction house it went through now. Yes, RHDs do come up at auction once or twice a year, and most seem to have been well looked after unlike a lot of the w113's and R107's that go through auction. Despite other peoples reservations (polite term), there is a lot to like about them. Hope you track one down
Peter
My mistake, it was £117k in the end although that clearly had the auction house fees added, so would have been around the £100k mark. There is more of a £ premium on the RHD 190sl than exists for the Pagoda, so this represented a very good buy for someone.
https://www.silverstoneauctions.com/events/2019-au...
Or if you can wait a while to save up some ££, there is always this.......
https://www.1stchoicecars.uk.com/classic-cars/merc...
Peter
https://www.silverstoneauctions.com/events/2019-au...
Or if you can wait a while to save up some ££, there is always this.......
https://www.1stchoicecars.uk.com/classic-cars/merc...
Peter
All I am saying is that it was never something of great quality, and it is not worth that kind of money. It’s quite a stylish little thing in its own way, but that’s about it. It’s also the SL which turned Mercedes sports cars into women’s cars, something they have tried to capitalise on, but never fully recovered from.
I don’t get Montegos, Escorts (except RS models), Minors, Minis or any of that either. They were just cheap nasty mass produced little boxes when they were new, worth very little then and nothing very much now.
If it’s what floats your boat, go for it. But would you not a Pagoda or a W107? SL Shop Sportline is also worth having a look at, I’m looking at it myself. Hemmels is massively impressive, but it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that these are not Aston Martin DB4’s, and they are being taken way beyond what they ever were, and in the end you are going to struggle to make a silk purse etc.
I don’t get Montegos, Escorts (except RS models), Minors, Minis or any of that either. They were just cheap nasty mass produced little boxes when they were new, worth very little then and nothing very much now.
If it’s what floats your boat, go for it. But would you not a Pagoda or a W107? SL Shop Sportline is also worth having a look at, I’m looking at it myself. Hemmels is massively impressive, but it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that these are not Aston Martin DB4’s, and they are being taken way beyond what they ever were, and in the end you are going to struggle to make a silk purse etc.
Edited by cardigankid on Tuesday 31st March 22:21
At 120 grand you're buying the styling and image*, the same with many classics. They weren't highly regarded new but they cling to the coat tails of the serious Mercedes, the 300SL which is seven figures. The 190 sort of looks like one from 100 yards away, from the front, ish.
RS Escorts - certainly the BDA stuff and the Twin Cam were the reverse but even then I blanch at the asking prices. A lot of the fringe 'fur coat no knickers' classics like the 190 SL, Mondials etc may be taking a very cold bath at some point. Dunno.
Each to their own but a nice Healey 100/6 looks like a bargain at 40k for a superb example but they were a drivers car rather than a boulevard cruiser. Different thing. The Ponton Convertibles are nice old buses, esp. the 220S.
RS Escorts - certainly the BDA stuff and the Twin Cam were the reverse but even then I blanch at the asking prices. A lot of the fringe 'fur coat no knickers' classics like the 190 SL, Mondials etc may be taking a very cold bath at some point. Dunno.
Each to their own but a nice Healey 100/6 looks like a bargain at 40k for a superb example but they were a drivers car rather than a boulevard cruiser. Different thing. The Ponton Convertibles are nice old buses, esp. the 220S.
Edited by Touring442 on Tuesday 31st March 22:16
DavesBentley said:
....my (old) Continental GT
....my E type series 1 roadster
....my 635CSi
(I love jags and have thought about the Mk2 or an XK).
....Sure if money were no problem I’d buy a 300SL
....my Capri
And you say you are no petrolhead? My case rests, your honour.....my E type series 1 roadster
....my 635CSi
(I love jags and have thought about the Mk2 or an XK).
....Sure if money were no problem I’d buy a 300SL
....my Capri
Nevertheless I will try to assist, because I get where you are coming from and I do own a couple of Merc’s myself.
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