1959 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL

121.040.10.9500417roadGermany

Engine: 1.9L inline four-cylinder
Colour: Red over tan leather

A February 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL roadster, originally built at Stuttgart and delivered to New York in factory black over red leather. Sharing the 300 SL's design language and independent suspension architecture, the 190 SL offered a refined, accessible alternative to Mercedes' flagship sports car. This example was comprehensively refurbished under prior ownership and now presents in red over tan leather with a matching soft-top, detailed engine bay, and whitewall tyres on colour-matched steel wheels.

Ownership

—Auction sale
Sold US$106,400
RM Sotheby's catalogue lot →
1959-02-01 →Factory delivery
Unknown original US recipient
partial documentation
Car was assembled in Stuttgart and shipped to New York in early 1959, originally in black with red leather interior and factory-specified options.
Date unknown
Prior owner who undertook refurbishment
partial documentation
Commissioned a comprehensive restoration, repainting the car red with tan leather interior and a tan soft-top, and detailing the engine bay and undercarriage to a high standard.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

—
Restoration
Thorough, high-quality refurbishment carried out under prior ownership, encompassing a repaint to red, a new tan leather interior with matching carpets and soft-top, detailed engine bay and undercarriage, and fitment of period-style instruments, an ivory steering wheel, and colour-matched steel wheels with whitewall tyres.
Becker Europa push-button radio and VDO gauges installed as part of the interior refresh. Copies of the original build sheet and data card are retained.

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