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LOT 136 ¤

1956 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Chassis no. 121042.5501579 Engine no. 5501585

Sold for US$89,600 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 136¤

From the Estate of Tom Ferrara
1956 Mercedes-Benz 190SL

1956 Mercedes-Benz 190SL
Chassis no. 121042.5501579
Engine no. 5501585


1,897cc SOHC 4-Cylinder Engine
Twin Weber Carburetors (see text)
105bhp at 5,700rpm
4-Speed Manual Transmission
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
4-Wheel Drum Brakes

*Three owners from new
*Elegant color scheme
*Great candidate for vintage racing or rallies
*A Mercedes-Benz classic


THE MERCEDES-BENZ 190SL

For those insufficiently wealthy to afford its hyper-expensive, race-bred sports car - the 300SL - Mercedes-Benz offered the less exotic but no less refined 190SL. Announced in 1954 and based on the 180 saloon, whose all-independently-suspended running gear it used, the 190SL did not enter production until January 1955, the delay being caused by alterations aimed at strengthening the saloon's shortened platform to compensate for the open body's reduced stiffness. "Very few new sports cars have been so eagerly awaited or so long in coming as the moderately priced SL version of the Mercedes-Benz," observed Road & Track magazine.

Mounted on a detachable subframe along with the four-speed manual gearbox, front suspension and steering, the power unit was a 1,897cc overhead-camshaft four, the first such engine ever to feature in a Mercedes-Benz. Breathing through twin Solex downdraft carburetors, this M121 power unit produced 105bhp at 5,700rpm, an output sufficient to propel the 190SL to 100km/h in 14.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 171km/h. The fact that the 190's ride was more boulevard than sporting, and that many contemporary sports cars could outperform it while costing a good deal less, did nothing to deter sales. The model was a big hit in the US, where a good percentage of the slightly fewer than 26,000 produced between 1955 and 1963 found homes.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

This lovely 190SL is a well preserved, three-owner car. Originally ordered in welßgrau (white grey), the original owner repainted the car black. It also appears that the interior was retrimmed in the red MB-Tex it wears today—although it was otherwise kept stock barring the addition of updated seatbelts.

Purchased by the previous, Canadian owner thirty years ago from the estate of the original, Atlanta owner, it has resided in climate-controlled garage. The car was regularly serviced as required by the specialists at Forli Motors in Toronto, Ontario. The Tom Ferrara purchased the car from Bonhams 2019 Greenwich Auction. Sparingly driven but always enjoyed, the car shows nicely today with 86,348 believed-to-be-original miles currently indicated on the odometer (although no paperwork documents this). The interior shows well and is still fitted with a desirable Becker Mexico "automatic tuning" radio for when the drive requires some tunes. Under the hood, the engine bay appears to be correct and quite original save for the fitment of a pair of Weber carburetors in place of the original Solexes.

Shown at a few local concours, the sporty droptop Benz is now ready to head to its next luck owner. A lovely machine for tours or Sunday drives, no matter what the use, you're guaranteed to arrive in style!

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¤No Reserve
Unless indicated by the ¤ symbol next to the lot number (or bearing an explicit statement such as "No Reserve" or "Without Reserve"), which denotes no reserve, all lots in the catalog are subject to a reserve. The reserve is the minimum hammer price that the seller is willing to accept for a lot. This amount is confidential and does not exceed the low estimate value.

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