1957 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL

Fully restored in 2015-16 by Redcastle Classics at a cost of £90,000, the 190SL was first registered in November 1957. Originally painted red, it went to Kuwait initially before arriving in the UK in the mid-sixties. It was used for a while before going into storage, eventually emerging as the car you see today.

Resplendent in Silver Grey Metallic with a red leather interior, the owner had such faith in Redcastle’s work that he collected it on the Saturday and drove it down to Italy only a few days later to chase the Mille Miglia. It “didn’t miss a beat” and the event started his love affair with the car, an affair that’s seen it driven all over Europe as he indulged his passion for the 190SL. He even detoured through Switzerland just to get a photo of it parked overnight outside the Hotel Kirchbühl with the Eiger’s north face as a backdrop. It’s never once let him down on his travels and he’s just returned from Laon Historique with it.

Utterly stunning, it’s being sold with a very sensible reserve, so if you’ve ever fancied treating yourself to one of the most beautiful cars ever made, your time has come.

Rather than waffle about the incredible panel alignment, the tight and even shutlines, the flawless paint, and the car’s impressive stance we will let the photos speak for themselves.

Feast your eyes on the wheelarches, with their subtle chrome trim - and just take a look at the red-tipped aerial; have you ever seen anything more glorious?

The black folding roof fits very well and is, of course, free of any damage or wear whatsoever. The hood frame is excellent too, and the whole lot sits underneath a beautiful red leather tonneau cover when not in use.

Other delightful details include the fact that the immaculate 13-inch steel wheels are fitted with four matching 6.40SR13 Michelin ZX tyres. As we will never tire of explaining, our experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

If you’re shy – or in the witness protection programme – then this isn’t the car for you as the owner tells us that he’s filmed and photographed wherever he goes. He even got a round of applause when driving through a small village in Europe, and says that drivers everywhere fall over themselves to let him out of junctions.

Grace Kelly drove one in the film High Society with Frank Sinatra in the passenger seat, and if you fancy living a film star’s lifestyle then this is the car to do it in.

As you can see, the red leather interior is still like new. With firm and supportive seats, it’s a place that’s as comfortable to sit in as it is to behold. The door cards, carpets and dashboard are all still immaculate and every bit as good as the day the day left Redcastle.

The chrome still gleams too, and the switches operate as crisply as they should and lifting the carpets reveals a floor that’s as clean underneath as it is up top; the owner clearly takes his role as the car’s custodian seriously.

As with the exterior, the details inside are what help distinguish this example of lesser cars. Details such as the magnificent gear knob, the ornate and flawless steering wheel, the Becker Europa Kurier FM radio (which was, by the way, the most expensive in-car radio of the period. This one has been modified to allow the connection of an iPod or similar), and the delicate pedals.

The boot is just as good as the rest of the interior and is home to a spare wheel (fitted with a Michelin tyre, obviously) and the tool kit.

A modern charging point and hazard warning light switch are welcome additions to the cockpit and help make the Mercedes safer and more convenient to use.

The fuel pump was replaced and the carburettors were balanced and tuned in July 2020. The starter motor was getting sluggish, so this was rebuilt in June 2021. It’s also been regularly serviced and MOT’d since being restored and the invoices for this work are online.

It goes without saying that the engine bay and underside are every bit as good as you’d expect from a company with Redcastle’s reputation – and that it’s all as clean as it is after four European jaunts and a London to Brighton run speaks volumes as to the care its received subsequently.

Our Grand Fromage inspected the car and found that “the indicator relay is a bit hit and miss as the indicator occasionally stays on. Otherwise it’s hard to fault.”

You could live with a To Do list like that, couldn’t you?

The old R.F.60 Registration Book shows the car being imported from Kuwait and two UK owners, a Mr. Tony Arthur Worsley of Blackpool who acquired the Mercedes in January 1966 followed by a Mr. Ainslie Walthen of Manchester.

The new-style V5 registration document shows just the two previous keepers, which tallies with the car’s more recent history as the vendor understands it: It seems to have been bought in the early eighties by a Manchester-based police inspector. He had a problem with the car and garaged it temporarily until it could be fixed – and it didn’t turn a wheel for the next 30 years…

It was then bought by a chap who wanted to restore it once he’d finished working on his classic Alfa Romeo. As is so often the way, he still hadn’t got around to starting it after another ten years in storage, so he did the sensible thing and sold it to Redcastle who then sold it to the vendor as the basis of a full restoration package.

This restoration was photographed (slides #264 to #293) and it’s worth taking a few moments to read the paperwork and browse the photos to understand the extent of the work Redcastle undertook on behalf of the owner.

The car also has its build sheet confirming engine and chassis numbers plus an owner’s handbook, many old invoices and bills, and a bunch of expired MOTs.

The 190SL is MOT’d until the 10th of June 2023, and this was gained with no advisories, something it’s made a bit of a habit of in recent years, failing only once for headlamp aim. #firstworldproblems

The recent Vehicle History Check shows nothing of note other than the change of colour.

Values of the 190SL have long started to emulate that of the 300SL with prices having reached well over $340,000 in the United States – and that was back in 2014.

And yet, the car is just one element of the puzzle because the very best cars are invariably bought from good people and if you’re investing the £110,000 to £130,000 we think this car will fetch, it needs to be correct in every way.

This one is. It’s got a great history, a recent restoration form one of the best companies in the business, and a wad of paperwork and photographs to back it all up.

And, possibly most important of all, the owner is most definitely One Of Us. He paid the right money to get the right people to build it and then took the time and trouble to keep it that way, even as he toured Europe (not once, but four times) in it.

But, please don’t take our word for it; we would urge any serious bidder to make an appointment to come and see it for themselves. Eligible for a huge number of historic events including the Mille Miglia, it’s a stunning car that needs nothing other than a tank full of fuel and head full of dreams.

And remember, that when markets falter – and they do from time to time – only the very best cars tent to be immune, which should give you some reassurance if you’re looking for a safe place to stash your money.

Viewing is always encouraged, within government guidelines of course. The car is located at our Abingdon headquarters; we are open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’