1955 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL
- Colour
- Crème leather interior with 300 SL red tartan cloth trim
A June 1955 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL, among the earliest examples produced, originally delivered new in Germany. Subsequently modified to approximate the period factory race-specification kit, the car features a hood scoop, cut-down doors, trimmed windscreen, and removal of the bumpers. Mercedes-Benz Classic Center acquired it in 2007 to continue and refine the conversion, adding a retrimmed interior in Crème leather and 300 SL red tartan cloth, and restoring the engine bay to period-correct condition. A Halda Speedpilot rally computer completes the competition-oriented interior.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$252,000
- 1955-06-01 →Factory deliveryGerman private individualpartial documentation
Original recipient of the vehicle upon its June 1955 factory completion; one of the earliest examples produced.
- → 2007Previous owner who initiated race-spec conversionpartial documentation
This owner began the process of modifying the car toward period race specification, including the hood scoop, cut-down doors, and bumper removal.
- 2007 →Private saleMercedes-Benz Classic Centerpartial documentation
Acquired to complete the race-specification build; carried out windscreen reduction, interior retrim in Crème leather and red tartan cloth, and engine bay restoration.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownCurrent private collectorpartial documentation
Vehicle held in a climate-controlled private collection with routine maintenance performed by a dedicated on-site technician.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2007RestorationMercedes-Benz Classic Center
Mercedes-Benz Classic Center continued the race-specification build, fitting a cut-down windscreen, fully retrimming the interior in Crème leather and 300 SL red tartan gabardine cloth, and restoring the engine compartment to a period-correct standard of finish and function.
- —Modification
Conversion toward period race-specification configuration, including fitting a hood scoop, cutting down the doors, and removing the factory bumpers. Work was initiated by a prior owner before 2007.
Project was later continued by Mercedes-Benz Classic Center.
- —Service
Routine maintenance carried out at regular intervals by an onsite technician during current ownership; most recently the car received fresh fluids and a general service within the last 50 miles prior to sale.
Car kept in a climate-controlled storage facility throughout this ownership period.
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