Three isn’t a Crowd – Mercedes-Benz 190SL

The following article was written and submitted by Car & Classic reader, Suzie Pilkington (you may remember her from the Ferrari Parts article). If you have a car, an interesting story and some pictures to go with it, and you’d like to see them all on our magazine, please do get in touch with our Editor via [email protected]. Until then, enjoy Suzie’s wonderful story about her Mercedes-Benz 190SL

‘Three isn’t a crowd when the third party is a Mercedes-Benz 190 SL’….

So stated Mercedes-Benz on the launch of its 190 SL at the 1954 New York Motor Show. Launched in the US rather than Europe, where Mercedes perceived greater demand for its new intimate 2-seater roadster, 70% of these cars were subsequently shipped stateside. Glossy brochures accompanied the launch with artists’ impressions of the soft lines, the elegant styling and promises of driving in comfort and safety. 

Mercedes had succeeded in creating a pretty little sister for the very popular six-cylinder 300SL at half the price. It came with both a soft top for the roadster look and a hard top for its Coupé Sunday best. Mercedes enjoyed strong demand for these for the duration of the 9 year production run, then moving on to launch the Pagoda 230SL. 

They nailed it. The car is a beauty, although as a proud owner, I might be rather biased on this. The curvaceous styling oozes ’50s panache. The interior does not disappoint; the painted dashboard is a joy to behold, sensibly practical yet elegant and complemented with an ivory coloured steering wheel with the ring operating not only the horn, but the indicators too. A natty little feature. 

Mechanically the 1.9 litre over-square 120bhp engine with overhead camshaft and valves provides torque up to a maximum of 6,000 revs. It is a straight-four unit offering maximum speed of 112mph. The twin Solex horizontal compound carburettors give modest consumption and solid acceleration. This is coupled with a four-speed gearbox. All in all not too racy but this car isn’t really about going fast it is more about touring and being seen.

From an engineering perspective, the car is a monocoque construction, unlike its big brother, the 300SL, which featured a tubular chassis. It features a single joint swing axle and independently suspended wheels. Its low centre of gravity contributes to driving performance and the recirculating ball-type steering gives it excellent manoeuvrability.

So, on to the featured car today. This 190SL had an exotic childhood, delivered new in 1962 to a British expat couple in the British Colony of Aden, modern day Yemen. This was a very different Aden from the city ravaged by war and famine over the last 5 years. 

The owners took delivery of the car in British Racing Green, a non-standard Mercedes colour with tan leather interior.  Payment was made in East African Shillings, equivalent to £1,300 sterling. However, the British were forced out of Aden in 1967 and the owner shipped the car to the UK. Consequently, it was first registered on UK plates in 1967. 

Interestingly there is a ream of paperwork relating to its import into the UK, which includes numerous letters, some in carbon copy to and from Thos. Cook and Son, HM Customs & Excise and the Automobile Association. These letters date from 1965 – 1967 and demonstrate that spectacular bureaucracy was already alive and well over 50 years ago. After Aden, the husband was off to Jeddah and his wife to the UK. As was the norm those days, the car was registered and insured in the husband’s name, despite being used predominantly by the wife. Basically it then took 3 years of wrangling for the owner to import his wife’s car back to the UK tax free under the so-called Change of Residence Concession. 

Anyway, once in the UK the owners cherished the car for a further 40 years, having it serviced regularly at a local Sussex garage before selling it through Bonhams at Goodwood in 2008.  

I was there for that auction, and needless to say, I fell in love there and then. At that time, I was the proud owner of a belting diamond blue Mercedes-Benz R107 300SL, which had served me well.  I had the added advantage of a father who had restored more than his fair share of cars, and who didn’t think buying this was one of my more insane ideas. With positive encouragement aplenty, my bidding hand went up without hesitation!

Before we knew it, we were driving it back from Goodwood. Although it had been well maintained early in its life, it had had minimal use over recent years –  a mere 150 miles over 8 years in fact. The engine ran fine, but the steering and suspension had considerable room for improvement. 

After a quick mechanical overhaul, I then used it for 18 months.  The paint was peeling in places and the leather seats were cracked and offered zero cushioning, but it drew compliments on every outing. The fact it was a bit shabby meant that I could park it anywhere. It was reliable too, good solid German engineering. Though as charming and as interesting as it was in its ‘used’ condition, there was no escaping the fact that a car such as this deserved a bit more love. 

In 2010 we took the inevitable plunge. We decided it was time to tidy it up – Bonhams had described it as ‘a little tired’ – this was fair.  We stripped it back to bare metal and were pleasantly surprised. The bodywork was remarkably sound for a car of that age. The wide front-hinged doors closed well and the car only needed a little TLC predominantly around the wheel arches. But it is never just a case of fixing the bodywork and then refitting all the other parts. Once the bodywork is looking perfect, you then need to make sure that all the other parts are up to scratch. Spare parts for 190SLs don’t come cheap – neither does re-chroming, nor a new interior. Plus obviously it is not just all about appearance, the engine and mechanicals needed restoration too. More big bills. But on a car such as this, one can consider it an investment rather than an outlay.  

Now the sympathetic restoration is long done, and the car gets a lot of use for local pootling about and a regular annual service. It is down to me as the second lady owner, to continue to love and cherish this car. It starts every time without fail. It attracts admiring glances on every outing. Of course, it doesn’t go out in all weathers, and it doesn’t get pushed too hard, but it does still get regular use. These cars are engineered to another level, and because of that, the years simply don’t matter. By keeping this car in regular use, I’m keeping it healthy and happy. 

Sadly though, I’m sorry to say this is not yet for sale through Car & Classic. Though if you are contemplating buying one, I would wholeheartedly recommend it. Reliable, beautiful, fun and refreshingly easy to maintain, the 190SL is a wonderful classic to have. i wouldn’t be without mine, and if you also take the plunge, I promise that as soon as you get behind the wheel, you’ll feel very much the same.