1955 Mercedes-Benz 190SL

• 1955, so the most desirable, with all the early features.

• Original Solex carbs.

• Roger Edwards Suspension.

• D Class interior.

• Paint applied by a specialist firm in the Midlands.

• Matching numbers.

Correct aluminum hardtop.

This is an original 1955 car, number 822 (with various number marking photos available). Its colour is Hi-gloss Black, as specified when it left the factory, but the red trim was changed to beige when it was reupholstered. Otherwise it is as original as possible, retaining the fiber heater ducts on the inner wings (not glassfibre ones), advance and retard control on the dash, gull wing seats, small rear lights, etc, as it left the factory.

The smaller front side lights were not available at the time of the restoration so it has the larger clear ones, but these are easily changed. The original 'Bosch' stamped headlamp bezels are very clear.

It has the correct grey black colour to the engine bay and boot, and the underside is in the correct grey finish. Parry Chana, then Mercedes Club Registrar for the model, assisted with finding the correct paint codes for these items.

Beautiful. Stunning. Immaculate – all words that are thrown around in classic cars circles regularly. Sometimes they’re accurate, and this is one of those times. This car is quite spectacular. It’s condition is as close to factory original as you’re likely to find.

The black paint appears flawless, as does the brightwork. There’s little use in my banging on about how glorious it is – just look at the pictures and watch the video.

The only details which isn’t absolutely spot on is that the car has slightly later sidelights, which are bigger then the early units. This is because the early units weren’t available when it was restored. It’s not a big deal, and they don’t look out of place, and changing them to the original style units would be fairly straightforward. Please note, this 190SL has not been fitted with poppers around the back edge of the soft top stowage area so the soft top or tonneau cannot be secured.

This SL was built with a red interior which was changed to beige leather when the car was restored in the UK. And much like the exterior, the cabin looks perfect. Sitting in this car you could easily be in a Mercedes showroom in 1955. All the trim is superb, with no faults at all that we could see.

There’s an elegant simplicity to the interior that no modern car could get anywhere near. Everything you need is here, unless you’re looking for a cup holder for your mocha-frappa-chino, in which case may we respectfully suggest you drink it in the café.

Mercedes cars of this period left the factory with a grey finish to the underside, just as you see here. Please excuse the mud on some of the suspension parts, but we photographed the car during the grim December weather, so this was unavoidable. But the underside is superb, just like the upper areas.

The engine bay is equally impressive. The 1.9-litre four-cylinder OHC engine is effectively a truncated version of the 300SL’s 3-litre six pot, and it runs like clockwork. It also, you won’t be surprised to hear, looks like new – as does the entire engine bay.

This 190SL was was manufactured on 14th October 1955 and sold new in Italy to a professor. It then moved to Switzerland (photos of it there are in the file that comes with the car).

It was laid up there in about 1974 – it’s believed as a result of electrical faults that attempts had been made to rectify with connecting blocks. These were still on it when the current owner bought it in 2010 and imported it to the UK. It had thus spent only 19 years in use, followed by a lay-up period of 36 years which explained its excellent condition before restoration. (photos in the file).

Only quarter panels, part floor pans and a part boot floor required replacement, body-wise, so the shut gaps are all excellent. Again, photos of these being fitted are available. All the bright parts are original and all were re-chromed as a matter of course by Castle Chrome.

All the running gear was restored by Roger Edwards Motors. The engine was subject to major rebuilding works just before it was laid up (copy invoices for the work are in the file) but it was opened up and all the waterways etc were cleaned. The engine was then reassembled and it runs well with excellent oil pressure.

The carburettors are correct the Solex items, fully restored by Parry Chana, who also had the steering box rebuilt in Germany and assisted with various other works. The tyres on the beautifully restored and finished wheels are Michelin ZXs all round.

The upholstery, hood and carpets were all replaced by, D Class who are well known for Mercedes work. The hard top was resprayed with the car but the baize headlining is original, as are the sun visors. In fact the only thing the car could do with is a hardtop to body seal that was, for some reason, not replaced during the restoration.

The car comes with an original 1955 handbook, and the original jack and a tool roll are present. Obviously, the car is MoT exempt, although we don’t doubt it would pass the test easily, were it required.

There is also a stack of invoices detailing the vast sums spent restoring this car to the beautiful condition it’s in today, plus plenty of photos before and during the work, along with period photos of the car when it was in mainland Europe.

The owner says:

‘It was supplied new to Italy and then owned by a family in Switzerland. There are various papers on file from that time such as insurance, etc. There are one or two photos of it in Switzerland before it was laid up in about 1974, having had only 19 years of usage. It was for that reason that the bodywork has survived so well, still having all original wings, doors, boot and bonnet, and with the entire bodyshell being original except for partial floor pans, a part boot floor and a couple of quarter panels. I have photos of it at that time showing how good it was – and of course photos taken during the works.'

‘I bought it from Christophe Grohe, a dealer in Switzerland in 2010, and embarked on a restoration till 2015, when it's first outing (still awaiting DVLA registration and hence with no number plates!) was to the 60th anniversary of the model organised by the Mercedes Club at Brooklands, where we took part in laps of the circuit and had photos taken on part of the old banked track. A copy of the Mercedes Gazette showing us going round the track is on file and the commemorative umbrella is still with the car as a memento.

‘We have fully restored the car and used it sparingly in the summer.’

We very much doubt there’s a lower mileage 190SL in better condition than this one anywhere. It’s simply stunning.

We value this Mercedes within the range of £136,000 - £155,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.