This 1963 Mercedes-Benz 190SL was ordered by a United Airlines captain and his wife through a Studebaker-Packard dealership in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They took delivery of the car at the Mercedes-Benz factory in Stuttgart, Germany, and drove it to Trondheim, Norway, for their wedding. They subsequently toured Europe for three months before shipping the car to New York and driving it back to Minnesota, and the vehicle remained with the original owners for over 60 years until their passing. Finished in Light Red over Parchment leather, the car is powered by a 1.9-liter inline-four paired with a four-speed manual transmission. This 190SL is now offered at no reserve by the seller on behalf of the owners’ trust with two data cards, European delivery service and warranty booklets, manufacturer’s literature, service records dating to 1978, a car cover, factory snow chains, spare parts, and a New Hampshire title.
The car is finished in Light Red (519) and features a black convertible top and a matching top boot. Additional equipment includes a driver-side mirror, and a bright windshield surround, grille, and bumpers. The folding top tension locks were replaced in 2004, and the hood and trunk lid were repainted in 2019 following dent repairs. Fading is noted on the convertible top, and the seller states the factory hardtop was destroyed in a building fire. Paint meter readings can be found in the gallery.
The five original 13″ steel wheels are all dated October 1962, and they are mounted with Vredestein Sprint Classic whitewall tires. A spare wheel also bearing a 10/62 date code and wrapped in an older BFGoodrich Silvertown tire is stowed in the trunk. The car is equipped with a double-wishbone front suspension and rear swing axles with coil springs, and stopping power is provided by power-assisted drum brakes. The brake master cylinder was replaced in 2016, and the hubcaps were repainted in 2016. The brake booster was rebuilt and the rear brake shoes, rear brake lines, and wheel cylinders were replaced in 2021.
Though the car was ordered with Parchment leather upholstery, it was delivered with gray. This oversight was finally rectified when the interior was refreshed by Turner’s Upholstery of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in November 2007. Work included recoloring the dashboard and installing a factory Parchment leather interior and carpet kit. Amenities include a Blaupunkt Frankfurt AM/FM radio, lap belts, an analog clock, and a dashboard-mounted rearview mirror. The radio was repaired in 2015.
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 63k miles. The tachometer cable was replaced in 2020.
The 1.9-liter M121 inline-four was factory rated at 104 horsepower and 105 lb-ft of torque. The engine number stamping matches the data card, and the numbers on the gearbox, axles, steering box, and body panels also match. Photos of the data cards and stampings are provided in the gallery. The starter was replaced in 2007, and the engine mounts were replaced in 2010. The water pump was replaced in 2016, and service in 2021 included replacing the spark plugs, ignition points, condenser, intake manifold gasket, and radiator hoses. The ignition points were cleaned in 2026.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a fully synchronized four-speed manual transmission. The rear resonator was replaced in 2010, and a transmission fluid leak is noted on previous service invoices.
Two data cards, European delivery service and warranty booklets, manufacturer’s literature, service records dating to 1978, a car cover, and factory snow chains will accompany the car.
A New Hampshire title application was approved, and the new title will be provided to the winning bidder after it has been received.