This car’s story begins with a chap called Bob who bought it around 1974 and then parked it up in his Norfolk garage workshop the following year. An astonishingly talented engineer by profession – he loved his cars and other mechanical machinery – his intention was to keep it running whilst embarking on a rolling restoration. Now, for one reason or another (life, no doubt!) that never happened and the 190SL simply entered stasis. 

And that’s where our vendor takes up the story, “Bob passed away a few years ago and I acquired it through a friend of a friend. It took quite a bit of work to extricate it from its hiding place – I’d been told that up until a few years ago you wouldn’t have been able to see it for all the boxes it resided under. 

“The chassis number suggests a 1960 model, although the car’s buff logbook notes that it wasn’t registered until the 18th of July 1962. I don’t know too much about its history prior to his ownership, although the same logbook indicates five owners prior.

“Quite simply, it’s a jewel. Yes, the sills have gone, but it’s solid down the centre and we were able to jack it up without any creaks or groans from the metalwork. All four wheels still rotate, so Bob obviously knew what he was doing and was quite sensible in terms of how he parked his cars up. It comes with some delightful 1960s and 1970s spares, some in their original bags, and a handful of detailed scribblings, showing how he intended to restore it”.  

As one of just 562 right-hand drive examples constructed (out of that total of more than 25,000), this an exciting opportunity to bag yourself a very rare and elegant car, embark on a restoration, and turn it into exactly what you want. 

An adventure awaits.

There’s no doubt that the 190SL is an alluring looking classic car. Those 300SL-derived looks are simply to die for and it’s as elegant a looking boulevardier as it’s possible to get. 

Despite being presented in a current down-on-its-luck state, that underlying beauty is still clear to see. In fact, it could be argued that it enhances it; for the more we look at the SL, the more difficult it is to take our eyes off it. And then, invariably, the mind begins to wander, and you start thinking about the possibilities…

“As you can see, the front bumper was removed; that was done to allow it to fit into its hiding place, but it is supplied. If I’m getting all nerdy, the round fog lights on it are incorrect, but the remains of a squashed square one in the boot may be the real deal!

“Originally supplied with Moss Green paintwork (code DB226), the bodywork has at some point been hand-painted in this rather fetching orange colour. You can see the brush marks up close, although given the time that’s passed it is difficult to tell if it’s gloss or emulsion! Has it helped to preserve some of the metalwork? Again, quite possibly”. 

As stated earlier, the car’s extremities will need significant restorative works but the central section appears to be quite solid, preserved by leaking engine oil no doubt! Magnet tests reveal all four wings to be metal, although there’s some filler around as you might expect. The bonnet, boot and doors are the correct aluminium items; a spare white boot lid with a fabulous ‘paint-effect’ is also supplied. 

“There are some odds and sods in the boot including joyously the original 190SL badge, and a handful of new parts including new Mercedes-Benz badges still in their 1970s dealer plastic bag”. 

Only one hubcap (also hand-painted orange) could be found, but all four chrome ring embellishers are present. 

“As with the outside of this car, the interior is quite amazing and largely complete. Seats remain bouncy, and you will even still find 1970s cigarette butts in the ashtray. It is quite a remarkable time-capsule”. 

There are some extra dials on the dashboard; supplied by people with names such as ‘Smith’ and ‘Lucas’ - safe to assume that they are not original Mercedes-Benz supplied items. 

The hood is intact and the mechanism still in working order, allowing it to be raised and lowered relatively easily. As you can imagine, given the length of time in storage, it’s grubby inside; a good clean will be necessary, before you’re able to tell what can be salvaged for reuse, restored or needs to be replaced. 

A period radio is fitted, but our favourite, quite poignant, interior accoutrement is the little keychain mouse (complete with nonchalant hands-in-pocket pose) that hangs from the passenger sun visor. 

Like the rest of the car, this SL is mechanically complete, and the engine still sports its original Solex carburettors. The vendor has tried to get a spanner on the engine but access is too tight for his spanner collection. Given the passage of time it may possibly be seized, but then again stranger things have happened. 

“One thing to be aware of is that there’s a picture of the engine number stamp on the side of the block and it’s a different one to that in the original buff logbook, which possibly means that it’s not matching numbers. It still a 190SL code, so looks to be of the same type”. 

We are very big fans of the internal combustion engine here at Bonhams|Cars Online, but we also recognise the contemporary fashion for electrification of classic cars. Given that the powerplant isn’t the original, and the 1.9-litre four-cylinder engine has always been the least exotic component of a 190SL, then that could make this example a possible candidate for electrical gentrification; it’d certainly look the part smooth-cruising through any metropolis or funky upmarket seaside town – decisions, decisions. 

Popping the boot reveals that the wheelwell has rusted through, but at first glance the boot floor itself is not too bad. 

As well as the continuation buff logbook, you will also find a !980s V5c document in the 190SL’s history file. There are a couple of expired MOT test certificates from Bob’s era, as well as compression ratio, chassis wiring and fuel economy charts.

Several books are included, as is a 1985 Practical Classics magazine feature in which Chris Graham details the problems and the costs involved in buying a Mercedes 190SL for restoration. Not sure how often a 190SL has featured in that magazine in the last few decades…! 

We mentioned Bob’s lovely handwritten notes earlier, and there are also a couple of invoices for works carried out.

The SL also comes with two sets of keys, one set found under the floor mats whilst photographing.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos to support our claim that this car has had six owners from new, was first registered in 1962 and has been parked up since the mid-1970s. 

How good is your imagination? For the automotive dreamers and talented mechanics out there, then it’s not difficult to imagine what this car could become. 

Classic vehicle restoration is not an easy task, but there is no doubt at all that it is a mightily satisfying one. This majestic survivor may currently be somewhat down on its luck, but it is ready to begin its journey back full health.

Remember, Mercedes built just 562 190SLs with the steering wheel on the right – so that includes cars for South Africa, Australia, Singapore and more, not just the UK. Opportunities like this do not come along often.

Given its remarkably complete nature, we think that this amazing barn find opportunity will realise somewhere between £25,000 and £45,000, but the vendor has requested no reserve to let it find its true value. For that, the next owner will receive a real rarity and quite possibly one of the most beautiful two-seater roadsters ever penned. 

What it then becomes will be entirely up to them. 

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located with the vendor in Steventon, Oxfordshire. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, 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, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.