junkyard 55 190SL

[grezm0nkey]

saw a 55 190SL in a junkyard barn. owner had this for over 15 years in a parts barn. car is complete, but engine had a fire in the carb and blew thru the hood. he has another hood and both tops, car is complete otherwise. needs about 13 tons of restoration elbowgrease to remove dust and crap.

what is this thing worth? owner knows this SL is a gem in the rough. just curious what price range it may fall in.

grez

1955 is the first year for 190sl production. Assembly line started production in May of 1955. These early cars came with seats similar to ones used in 300SL. Also, these early 190SL models had less chrome than later ones. Tailights were smaller than later versions, The car may not have had power brakes fitted. What is it worth? Catch as catch can. Hemmings magazine always has several listed every month. Call Buds Benz in Ga and Millers Mercedes to find out what restoration parts run. Proper rust repair,interior work, and chrome repair/replate are big $ on these cars. Mechanical repairs/parts are not too expensive considering age and hand built nature of these cars. Car could be a real diamond in the rough that was forgotten or it could be a nightmare money pit. I am not surprised that a carb caught on fire. Same thing happened to my dads 1961 190sl many years ago. The original Solex carb was notorious for leaking fuel all over the place. Big plus from what you describe is that it was not driven into the ground, car may not be rusty and has been stored indoors. Don't let my ramblings scare you away from this car, it could be a real gem!!! Parts cars/ rough restoration projects run from <5k to around 9k. Having both tops is a huge plus. Hardtop is worth at least $1000.00 if it is in decent shape. These cars were sold as roadster or coupe depending on vin number.

[Arthur Dalton]

If it has original hardtop, the 55/56 had the small rear window with mohair headliner ... worth much more.

[bstreep]

Sounds like a parts car. Also sounds like the owner thinks it's worth more than it is. You can be GIVEN one of these to restore and not come out even. Yes, '55s were the first year, and are typically worth a little more. However, RESTORING one in poor condition is just about impossible without spending a fortune - because the parts are different than the rest of the production. If it's a VERY early car, might be worth it - serial number will tell you how early. Try posting on www.190slgroup.com. Sounds like the owner THINKS it's worth a bunch.

Oh, and the myth of the $1000 hardtops is just that. Unless it's a very early aluminum one (which it may be). Yes, the small windows are worth more, but unless the top is near perfect AND you find someone who wants that color pair, it isn't worth $1000.

[grezm0nkey]

i have no idea if the top is original and if both were original to car. i couldnt get to see the car up and close. there were other SL's in the way. its pretty tucked away. from where i could see the car is just really dusty, enough were the windows were impossible to see into. i dont recall the rear window size. i dont doubt the car has cancer and possible host of problems. looks like i just might keep hounding him for the car. if i get a chance to see it again, i will try to snap a shot of it with my camera phone....if i can. i have to admit i walked out of the barn salvating. i want that SL.

grez

[bstreep]

Grez, if you really want a 190SL, come talk to us at the 190SL Group. Seriously, DON'T fall in love with this junkyard beast...

As much as I hate to see it and don't want to see us "lose" another car, most of these things are best left as parts cars. I know how you feel when you see one - it gets personal... But, you should see what folks go thru when they get one to restore that has sentimental value - one that came from a family member, etc. It's terrible - it's not worth the money, and it is a major headache, and most people can't afford what it takes to restore - even when they do most of the work. Good drivers are reasonably priced, and you can't restore one to that condition even if you are GIVEN the car.

[grezm0nkey]

bstreep - thanks for the heads up, i know it would be a money pit. but the car really isnt that bad. of course i am looking at it thru a mechanics eyes. i would love to have it just to work on. who knows, maybe im just dreaming. he may not even sell it. if he does, i am sure i cant afford it anyway. but i will still try. cant stand to see such a thing like that goto waste or parts, much like warbirds of yester year. i guess thats a wrenches curse, huh?

grez

Hardtops for 121 chassis cars don't come up for sale very often. It's not like there are hundreds for sale out there. As I said they are not very common because cars were sold as roadster or coupe, unlike later sl models. When is the last time anyone saw a complete one for sale??? If anyone wants to sell one for less than $1000 please let me know, I would love to have one for our 1961 190SL. Drivers can be a real nightmare also. Why pay extra just because the car can move under it's own power, that doesn't really mean much. I have seen drivers that were so butchered they were unsafe to drive. Drivers sometimes have incorrect parts, are full of bondo, have floors patched together with pop rivets, and are reconstituted from junkyard dogs. A car that had a fire and then was put away might make a excellent candidate for restoration. Just because it is in a junkyard doen't make it worth less than if it was in someones garage. If the fire happened a long time(i.e. 1970's) ago the car was just a used car, like Jag XKE, Porsche 356 at the time could be had for little money. Where I live there was a man who had a contract with the county to tow cars. When he died the public was allowed into his yard to buy the cars. It is something I will never forget. He had towed away every car imaginable in the last 40 years. They were parked with no room to walk in between them, From '59 Cadillac convertibles, to 1920's American LaFrance fire pumper's, to 1955 Buick specials, to Jags, Lotus Elan's, a 1958 220S converitble, you name it was in that 25 acre yard. At the time these cars were just that, used cars with no collector value. In 1975 a friend sold a perfect 190SL for $1800.00. Offered me the hardtop for $20.00 delivered because buyer didn't want it, I didn't either at the time.Condition is everything. I once saw a 1955 190SL that sold for almost 20k. It had incorrect bumpers, a cheap vinyl interior, panel fit was horrible, no hardtop, weber carbs, non fuctioning brake booster, incorrect 14 in wheels, and a rusted battery box. It was barely a driver, to a purist that car was beyond restoration. Alex Dearborn(Dearborn Automotive) can probably provide real world advice regarding todays market. A decent 190SL driver is not cheap, you could buy a nice W113 for similar money. Also, hood, trunk, and doors are aluminum on these cars, hence the SL designation.

[grezm0nkey]

i saw the car twice. he didnt go into detail of the history on the car. just mentioned it had a fire from the carb and said its complete. he also had both tops and an extra hood to replace the burned one. the donor hood was leaned up against the wall. there was no room to walk up to the car cuz there so much parts and crap piled around it. i did notice both light tail light covers were good. no dents that i could see looking at it from 10 feet away from the driver front and rear views. he has a coupe like mine out in the yard. theres a few pieces missing from the body. now that 250 coupe is a yard dog. i talked to him about that one and he mentioned he would give a deal. something like that i would gut and fill with an american mill to restore. my appologies to the purest MB guy, but some cars, like u say are just better left for parts. I would guess i could walk away with that coupe for 2 thousand, maybe less. he did ask for 3 tho, said it runs. i wouldnt try tho judging by the looks of the thing.

i had no idea the SL doors were aluminum. was that just the SL? i have to admit i have gotten bitten by the MB bug. the more i work on my coupe and the more i look around, the more i appriciate the lines and style. it amazes me with the technology on my coupe alone. in 1967 that was cutting edge tech. the quality is up there. i work as an aircraft tech. i know good work when i see it. the connectors for the wiring blew me away. its not that cheap plastic crap that crumbles after u heat it to 75 degrees F. i have to hand it to MB. i can say so for the new ones, just cuz i dont own one, but for the older ones. they really dont build them like that anymore PERIOD.

grez

The 300SL gullwing and roadster, the pagoda 230-250-280SL, and some euro W107 500SL and 450SLC 5.0 models had some body panels in aluminum. If you have a 1967 coupe then you will really like the 190SL. Compared to a British/Italian car of the same period a 190SL was a well built, reliable(except for dual Solex 44PHH carbs) car that didn't leak water inside, was quiet and refined, and had a real heater(actualy two seperate heaters, one for driver and one for pass.), but it was just a little slow(compared to a big Austin or Jag) because it was handmade with real steel. The brakes were state of the art for the time. Drums were finned aluminum with a cast iron liner, wide shoes were aluminum, dual wheel cyl in the front, and a remote power booster. The best drum brakes ever made. You won't miss having disc brakes. The removable body panels were individually hand fit to each car and had the last three digits of serial number stamped on them. A Judson supercharger was sold in the aftermarket and made the car pretty quick. Also, they are the least common of the SL(except 300SL) with around 25 thousand built between 1955-1963. This was the era of reconstruction for Mercedes and the quality really shows.

[grezm0nkey]

think u just made wet my pants. looks like i will dive alittle deeper into that year and model. did they ever make aftermarket carbs for the car? since it did catch fire, i suppose others have too.

dont know if u are trying to discourage me, enlighten me or make me just plain jealous. i think alittle of everything. more yearning than anything.

if i were itailian, i would make him a offer he cant refuse. since im not, i would make him an offer he cant stop laughing at.

grez

Sorry if I came off a little wierd. I used to work at a idny MB shop years ago and saw too many nice cars get junked for rather simple reasons. A customer gave them a really nice 1964ish W112 300SE sedan once. The car needed a few minor repairs. well it languished for years until it got crushed. It's just that I am enthusiastic about the older Mercedes, and most people I know wouldn't even know or care what a older MB is. Yes, a company makes a thin adapter plate that lets you use Weber carbs that do not leak. The model is the Weber 40DCOE, a aftermarket replacment used on eveything from Jags to Datsun. A few years ago complete conversion kits with new webers could be had for around $1000. The Solex would percolate(sp?) fuel by design through a drain tube that ran from carbs to radiator support. That part was frequently lost and the fuel would drip right on the hot exhaust manifold directly under the carb. Millers Mercedes in Ca (1 800 779 3774)could probably tell you about carb options.

[grezm0nkey]

well i can forget the 190sl. he wants more than 25k for the thing. jusss aleeettle out of my range. went there yesterday and asked about it. told me i would be better off with a slc he had, but i asked him to hold a 250se coupe instead.

grez

[Moses]

since you can't get the 190SL if i were you I would truely think hard about the SLC.These cars are so under priced for what they are, and they are a real blast. the only thing you can do with them is have fun and make money because they are at the bottom of their value swing they are only going up. If i didn't have my 560SEC I would definatly be looking for a SLC. Check out the prices they are selling for on EBAY, they are 1/4 the cost of an SL in the same shape. Any way have fun with your benz's as you are hooked now. I started with a 220D 25 years ago and have had one every since. Now I have a 1986 420SEL, and a1989 560SEC. Good luck

Moses

[bstreep]

Sorry, I meant to put this in the previous post. For more info about 190SLs, go to www.190slgroup.com. Get educated for free.

BTW, 14" wheels were an option on 190SLs.

Webers are a decent replacement for the Solexes. A more expensive, but better solution is to have your Solexes rebuilt - about $3K. Will Samples at S & S Imports remanufactures them the way they should have been built - they won't fail again.

$25K is absurd. You can buy a nice, good running 190SL for that. We ususally have 2 or 3 in our club newsletter. For $35K you can have a really, really nice car.

W113s are generally less expensive, faster, and you can get A/C in them! (I live in San Antonio - but on the plus side I'm driving my 190SL today!).

220SE, the $1000 large window hardtop IS a myth - you must not have looked very hard. They come up all the time on ebay, occasionally on our website and in our newsletter. Mine hasn't been on my car in the 11 years I've owned it. The only reason I don't sell it is because it's in decent shape and the headliner matches my interior.