Description
MOT EXEMPT
IMPORTED FROM THE CAR FRIENDLY CLIMATE OF ZIMBABWE IN 1994 AND SUBJECT TO AN EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF RESTORATION OVER THE YEARS.
THE ENGINE AND GEARBOX OVERHAUL COSTING SOME £17, 360 BETWEEN (NOV 2018-AUG 2020)
A MUCH LOVED "PONTON" THAT WOULD GRACE MANY A CLASSIC CAR SHOW.
AMONG THE FINAL "PONTON" DERIVATIVES, THE 190 Db WAS INTRODUCED IN JUNE 1959. A DECIDEDLY HANDSOME "THREE BOX" SALLOON DESIGN UTILISING MONOCOQUE CONSTRUCTION, IT WAS EQUIPPED WITH ALL ROUND INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION (DOUBLE WISHBONE FRONT/ SWING AXLE REAR) AND FOUR-WHEEL DRUM BRAKES.
POWERED BY A 1. 9 LITRE OHC FOUR-CYLINDER DIESEL ENGINE ALLIED TO FOUR-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, THE 190D WAS DECIDEDLY MORE FUEL EFFICIENT THAN ITS PETROL SIBLINGS.
WITH A QUOTED 55 bhp ON TAP, IT WAS REPUTEDLY CAPABLE OF 120KM/ H.
THE ADDITION OF A LOWER CASE b SUFFIX TO THE VARIOUS "PONTON" MODEL DESIGNATIONS FOR 1959 SIGNIFIED THE PRESENCE OF NEW SAFETY MEASURES SUCH AS A PADDED STEERING WHEEL CENTRE AND PADDED DASHBOARD TOP.
BEAUTIFULLY BUILT AND ELEGANTLY STYLED, THE 190 Db SHARED ITS BASIC PLATFORM ARCHITECTURE WITH THE 190 SL SPORTSCAR.
WHILE ONE OF ITS 180 D PREDECESSORS TOOK CLASS VICTORY ON THE 1955 MILLE MIGLIA AT AN AVERAGE SPEED OF 58 MPH.
ACCORDING TO ITS ACCOMPANYING COPY FAHRZEUG-DATEN CARD, CHASSIS 121110-20-060371 WAS BUILTTO RIGHT-HAND-DRIVE SPECIFICATION AND DELIVERED NEW TO MERCEDES-BENZ ZIMBABWEAN DISTRIBUTOR ON 20TH JULY 1961.
BELONGING TO HARARE RESIDENT RICHARD BURNETT ESQ SOME TWENTY-SIX YEARS LATER, THE 190 Db ACCOMPANIED HIM WHEN HE RELOCATED TO WOOTON BASSETT DURING 1994.
MOT TESTED ON 10TH FEB 1994 AT AN INDICATED 18, 236 MILES PRIOR TO BEING UK REGISTERED AS XYJ552; THE FOUR SEATER WAS ACQUIRED BY ITS MOST RECENT REGISTERED KEEPER ON 25TH JAN 2018 FOR £11, 500.
AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTION CARRIED OUT BY MEADVALE GARAGE OF REDHILL SHORTLY THEREAFTER NOTED "NO SIGNIFICANT CORROSION EITHER PRESENT OR REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY" BUT THAT THE ENGINE WAS BURNING OIL.
SELF EVIDENTLY THE SUBJECT OF A PAST RESTORATION DURING WHICH IT WAS REPAINTED IN ITS ORIGINAL IVORY AND RE-TRIMMED IN BEIGE CLOTH, THE MERCEDES-BENZ WAS ENTRUSTED TO JOHN ORROF OCKLEY CLASSICS
