1961 Mercedes-Benz 190SL

This 1961 Mercedes-Benz 190SL was sold new at Bickelhaupt Motor Co. in Clinton, Iowa, and spent time in New Mexico before being purchased by the current owner on BaT in August 2018. The car is reported to have been repainted in red and the interior re-trimmed in beige leather in the mid-2000s. Power is provided by a 1.9-liter inline-four, and additional equipment includes a black convertible soft top, a beige top boot, an AM/FM radio, 13″ steel wheels with body-color hubcaps, and dual Weber carburetors. The four-speed manual transmission and the rear axle were overhauled in 2020, and the oil pan and fuel pump were also replaced under current ownership. This 190SL is now offered by the seller on behalf of the owner with an owner’s manual, a copy of the data card, a tool kit, and a clean California title in the owner’s name. The car was refinished in red in 2003 and features a black convertible soft top, a tan top boot, and a single side mirror. The chrome bumpers and trim were reportedly re-plated during the refurbishment, and dings and scratches are visible on the bumpers. Steel 13″ wheels wear chrome trim rings, hubcaps with body-color accents, and 185/80 BFGoodrich Silvertown Radial whitewall tires that were mounted in 2018. The car is equipped with a double-wishbone front suspension, rear swing axles with coil springs, and power-assisted drum brakes. The cabin features low-back bucket seats reupholstered in beige leather as well as matching door panels and dashboard trim. A Becker Europa AM/FM radio is accompanied by an analog clock, a dashboard-mounted rearview mirror, and lap belts. The seller notes the door locks do not work. The two-spoke steering wheel frames VDO instrumentation including a 140-mph speedometer and a 7k-rpm tachometer as well as gauges for oil pressure, water temperature, and fuel level. The five-digit odometer shows 17k miles, approximately 1,600 of which were added under current ownership. The speedometer was repaired in 2018. Total mileage is unknown. The 1.9-liter M121 inline-four has been fitted with dual Weber carburetors in place of the removed Solex units, and the oil pan and fuel pump were replaced under current ownership. An oil change was performed in preparation for the sale. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a fully synchronized four-speed manual transmission, which was removed and overhauled using a replacement housing in 2020. The rear axle and seals were also serviced at that time. Filed under: r121, sl