Chassis Number: 12104220018440
Engine Number: 12192120118570
UK Registration Number: DAS 774
Date of first reg: 31st December 1960
Exterior colour: Red
Hood:
Interior colour: Black Leather
Current Odometer reading:
Mileage Warranty:
Steering: Right
Transmission: Manual
Options:
Background
Sporting elegance, safety and comfort – with these qualities the 190 SL conquered a whole new circle of enthusiastic fans of dynamic driving. Mercedes-Benz unveiled the prototype of the 190 SL (W 121) at the International Motor Sports Show in New York in February 1954, alongside the production version of the 300 SL “Gullwingâ€. Although the two-seater roadster with folding soft top stirred passions, it was to undergo a further thorough revision by the Mercedes-Benz designers – known at the time as stylists. In March 1955, a full year after the New York premiere, the production version went on display at the Geneva Motor Show. Like its elder brother, the spectacular 300 SL “Gullwingâ€, the 190 SL rapidly became one of the most coveted dream cars of its day. Although less powerful than the 300 SL, it generated no less excitement and opened up the SL legend to a wider circle of customers. By 1963 sales had totalled 25,881 units.
The 105 hp (77 kW) 1.9-litre 4-cylinder engine gave a top speed of 170 km/h, more than adequate for the road conditions of the day.
And even long-distance drives were enjoyable thanks to the comfortable suspension. The handsome sports car for all occasions was particularly popular among female drivers, who appreciated not only the sporting elegance of its design, but also the open-air feeling that came as standard. With its easy-to-operate soft top and optionally available coupé hardtop, the 190 SL was the first SL to combine the possibility of open-top driving with absolute all-weather capability.
Summary:
Molly the Mercedes comes highly recommended.
Stunning looks, a manual gearbox and a low recorded mileage makes this Mercedes 190SL a superb proposition. Whether it is your choice to enjoy the wind in your hair, maybe some classic rallies, special transport for the Revival or even the foundation of a full restoration back to original specification – you won’t find a better proposition.
Vehicle History
First registered on the cusp of the New Year, according to the original Mercedes data card, this delightful car's factory specification was 334 Light Blue with MB text (vinyl) Red a Bouche Red Carpet and a Beige Hood!
It spent many of its early years on the sunny south coast, evidenced by comprehensive early service documentation from towns like Chichester and Bournemouth. From those same service records we can clearly identify seven of the owners out of the total nine given on the V5C.
It is possible that these are the very first of those owners as the service records start in 1967 with the ownership of a Mr P Stride and registered ETA 77 - he owned the car for some time into the 1970s before it was sold to a Mr A P Lewis whose name is on a handwritten receipt when the car was sold to a Chris Packham. A Mr Budgen took the car into through the 90s into though the millennium before it was briefly in the hands of a Paul Bowler.
He chose to sell the car through Barons Auctions where is was purchased in October 2002 by the current owner's husband and it was transferred to her name in 2009 and was christened Molly. The contemporary Barons Catalogue records in typical auction vernacular "...it is said to have been the subject of restoration in 1997 and described as being in excellent order throughout."
There is no specific record of that restoration in the service folder, however, the car has changed from its original colour to Havana Brown and thence to a rather fine shade of Red, it is in good order and is presented complete with a new hood!
A participant in the 2008 Norwich Union MSA Classic, she has been in dry storage for the last few years and the mileage record shows very little use so the owner has made the very reluctant decision to sell her.
16.01.73 56,286
28.11.74 57,756
08.08.87 72,048
22.07.88 72,774
29.01.90 73,385
08.04.91 73,776
07.05.96 77,912
28.07.99 77,668
17.04.02 78,037
24.06.03 78,650
28.03.06 78,981
02.07.07 79,101
01.07.08 79,175
24.06.09 79,611
25.06.10 79,621
30.06.11 79,648
26.06.12 79,670
04.07.13 79,824
24.06.14 79,853
30.06.67- Mileage: 37,486- Service Agent: Mercedes Benz GB
Removing fittings, replacing all wings and rear wheel arches and sill panels, preparing and refinishing car in Havana Brown including door shuts, door edges and dash at agreed price. Re-chroming front bumper. Carry out “E†service replace fan belt and throttle spring, fit new plugs and tune, clean down engine
24.08.67- Mileage: 38,274- Service Agent: Wadhams
Dismantling luggage carrier, reshape bottom runners and brackets, assembling and fitting to boot lid. Chroming luggage straps and brackets
19.09.67- Mileage: 38,781- Service Agent: Wadhams
Draining cooling system and fitting new thermostat, refilling system and adding anti-freeze. Attend to leak from carburettor
31.10.67- Mileage: 39,509- Service Agent: Wadhams
Change top mounting on steering column
10.11.67- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: Wyke Motors
Replace exhaust
05.06.68- Mileage: 41,539- Service Agent: Wadhams
Check for water leak on bulkhead, seal off round clutch cylinder
02.01.69- Mileage: 43,639- Service Agent: Wadhams
Fit headlamp bulbs, free off adjustment screws, fit number plate light
01.08.69- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: Wadhams
Testing and cleaning plugs, cleaning points and synchronising carburettors
08.09.69- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: Wadhams
Fitting heater hoses
01.01.70- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: AJ Coe
Check engine for misfire, Krypton check. Remove all ancillaries, remove cylinder head, transfer fittings to new cylinder head, grind in new valves, re-assemble with new gaskets, new distributor. Balance carbs, clean air filter
01.02.70- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: AJ Coe
Fit four new track rod ends, strip steering and fit new draglink
01.03.70- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: AJ Coe
Remove and refit radiator and hoses, overhaul radiator, make up new clutch return spring
01.05.70- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: AJ Coe
Repair puncture, balance wheel
01.06.70- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: AJ Coe
Service car, strip and repair horn assembly
18.06.70- Mileage: 49,162- Service Agent: BP Lubrication at AJ Coe
6,000 service
01.08.70- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: AJ Coe
Remove exhaust and weld in new silencer and tailpipe
27.08.70- Mileage: 49,554- Service Agent: Wadhams
Change wheel, repair puncture and supply and fit two Firestone tyres
01.09.70- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: AJ Coe
Remove steering wheel, adjust horn ring and refit
01.01.71- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: AJ Coe
New battery
01.03.71- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: AJ Coe
Fit new silencer pipe, connector and clamp
13.05.71- Mileage: 51,420- Service Agent: BP Lubrication at AJ Coe
Service, repair choke control, fit new stone guard
01.08.71- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: AJ Coe
Weld in new exhaust section + change wiper blade
01.11.71- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: AJ Coe
2 x tyres, valves and MOT
17.01.72- Mileage: 53,525.- Service Agent: BO Lubrication at AJ Coe
Rectify non-start, ignition short mended. Full service, fit new brake light switch, fit new shock absorber
01.02.72- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: AJ Coe
Change oil & filter, remove, strip and recondition starter motor
23.03.72- Mileage: 53,976- Service Agent: Malaya Garage
Clean underbody and full GML treatment
01.02.73- Mileage: 56,484- Service Agent: Summersdale Service
Strip and clean carbs, replace using new gaskets, reset linkages and synchronise. Strip and check brakes replacing self-adjusting washers
07.03.73- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: Summersdale Service
Replace starter, flywheel and clutch. Change oil & filter and grease all points
07.12.89- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: Cross Keys Taunton
Parts only: Badges, lamps, mouldings, seals, handles, strips, rubber pads
07.05.92- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: Millers Incorporated
Trim for 190SL
23.12.93- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: Majestic Garage Bournemouth
Parts: Mounting, washer pump kit, filter, weather-strip
06.01.94- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: Majestic Garage Bournemouth
Parts; Kit
21.01.94- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: London Stainless Steel exhaust Centre
System for Mercedes 190SL
26.01.94- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: London Stainless Steel exhaust Centre
Manifold Mercedes 190SL
18.02.94- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: Sussex Radiators
Merc Reblock 190
24.03.94- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: Majestic Garage Bournemouth
Parts: Bush Spring and Clutch compensating spring
30.03.94- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: Majestic Garage Bournemouth
Parts: Diaphragm, gasket kit
05.04.94- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: Malaya
Parts: Radiator cap
18.04.94- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: Majestic Garage Bournemouth
Parts: 3 x kits
19.04.94- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: Majestic Garage Bournemouth
Parts: 2 x plates
03.05.94- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: Majestic Garage Bournemouth
Parts: Lens, valve
10.06/94- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: Majestic Garage Bournemouth
Parts: T/gauge
21.09.94- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: Jacksons
Parts: Catch, oil filter, hose
24.07.96- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: Jacksons
Parts: Bearing housing
18.10.96- Mileage: n/a.- Service Agent: Jacksons
Parts: Radiator cap
25.05.06- Mileage: 78,983- Service Agent: Litre Garage Services
S/fit new battery, check over car, s/fit 3 x track rod ends, repair and adjust steering box, reset tracking. Weld and refit exhaust, s/fit reconditioned radiator, s/fit new coolant hoses. S/fit HT leads, coil, plugs, points & condenser. Full service, fit new fan belt and 2 x engine mountings, MOT
01.07.08- Mileage: 79,175- Service Agent: Litre Garage Services
Check over for MOT, strip out front brakes, clean and check wheel cylinders and refit, remove servo filter, clean and refit. Remove rocker cover, refit with new copper seal to breather, check charge rate on battery, road test & MOT
25.06.09- Mileage: 79,611- Service Agent: Litre Garage Services
Remedy items of MOT failure – side lights, headlight and carry out level check
28.04.10- Mileage: 79,621- Service Agent: Litre Garage Services
Charge battery, replace leaking hose and top up anti-freeze, carry out annual service MOT
01.07.11- Mileage: 79,648- Service Agent: Litre Garage Services
Full service, clean and free off brakes all round, adjust front wheel bearings, reset tyre pressures, tune carbs, MOT, s/fit new battery
27.06.12- Mileage: 79,670- Service Agent: Litre Garage Services
Check over for MOT, carry out MOT
04.07.13- Mileage: 79,824- Service Agent: Litre Garage Services
Carry out general annual check over, top up levels & tyre pressures, MOT
27.09.18- Mileage: - Service Agent: O’Keeffe Coachtrimming & Restoration
Supply & Fit new soft top, including header rail rubber, rear chrome moulding. Clean and cover frame etc.
15.11.18- Mileage: 79,863- Service Agent: Vantage Engineering Ltd
Replace split / damages hoses and clips in engine bay, replace radiator mounting rubbers. Fit new battery, supply and fit new spark plugs. Drain brake fluid, change master cylinder and N.S.F. and O.S.R. brake wheel cylinders, fill with fresh fluid and bleed system.
