What do you guys think of this car?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2400218217

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1983 500SL

Misc benz parts from 107,201, & 126

1991 Toyota Celica GT convertible

1992 Honda Prelude SI 4WS

You need to know if the metal supporting the trailing arms is rusted. This was a problem with 190SLs twenty years ago and now this car is 42-years-old. Of course this can be fixed. The Solexes can be rebuilt or replaced with new Webers. The brake booster can be rebuilt or for many dollars you can purchase a new one.

Parts for this car are easy to find and there is a great support network at www.190slgroup.com. New parts that are unique to the 190SL are expensive, though parts shared with other MB models are reasonable. For example, a new set of bumpers would set you back about $9,000. I didn't see them on the car, but in the description he said he has them.

The car is a very comfortable touring car and with its complex curves it is a beautifully styled classic car. It will turn everyones head as you motor down the highways.

Cheers,

I wouldn't buy one sight unseen. For twice the money, you can get one already restored. If you plan on a show car, then this might work. But then again, it might not. As Robbie says, you can get great advice at www.190slgroup.com

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Bill Streep
San Antonio
'57 190SL (toy)
'08 S5500 (mine)
'09 CLK550 (wife's)
'06 SLK350 (daughter's)
'11 GLK350 (daughter's)
'03 CLK310 (spare)

Bill has a very good point about inspecting 190SLs prior to purchase. This is one car where it is less expensive buying as nice of one as you can find instead of a fix-it upper, unless you can easily do the work yourself or don't object to having a restoration shop spend up to 3000 hours on it for you.

After I rebuilt the engine and transmission a Benz restoration spent 2,100 hours on my car. When I bought mine it had no visible rust, but I ended up replacing the nose, three of four fenders, floor pans and most of the support rails. This car requires more time to repair than the 300SL.

If the engine wasn't using MB neutral Ph antifreeze expect cylinder head problems between cylinders 2 and 3. The aluminum head oxidizes there letting coolant into the cylinders. It can be heliarced and machined to repair or replaced with a new head ($4,200). I bought three used heads before I found one that was usable and this was 18 years ago.

Again they are wonderful automobiles. I've driven mine 200,000 miles in the past 15 years to Florida, Newfoundland, Alaska and places in between. In addition to touring I had it on two raceways last year, drove it at its 5,750 rpm redline for several days, then drove it 743 miles home without a single problem.

You are welcome to come by and see mine. We both live in southeastern Virginia.

Cheers,

Robby

Robby,
What tracks did you run your 190SL at. I pit-crew for a buddy that vintage races a '65 Sunbeam Tiger at Summit Point and V.I.R.
Last summer, at V.I.R., there was a race prepared 190SL, from North Carolina I think. I frequently commute between Virginia Beach and Alexandria. Maybe I could stop by and see your SL sometime.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

Mark

Last year I drove the 190SL at Indianapolis Raceway Park on the 2.5 m 15-turn track and the drag strip . Also had it at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The 190SL racer was it red or silver? Could it have belonged to Bruce Adams or Tom Hamilton?

Last year I had my 190E 2.3-16 at VIR and Summit Point and I spent a half-day at RIR.

Stop by anytime though tomorrow I deliver my 190SL to Bob Platz's Precision Autoworks in Camden, NJ to have some work done to it. I've loaned my modified Euro spec 2.3-16 to a friend who works overseas. He'll head back Feb 23. Ha, he loves driving the car.

Cheers,

Robby

Robby,
That 190SL at V.I.R. was silver. The driver shared the pit area with another gentleman who has a Mercedes shop in N.C. and was running a silver 250SL. I've seen 190Es at Summit and V.I.R.. I'll have to look at my tapes to see if I recorded yours. I'm always excited to see Mercedes of any kind on the track as they don't seem to be very popular as competition machines.
My first Mercedes was a '61 180b. It had slower acceleration than a VW Bug. I used to have this fantasy about souping it up with a 190SL engine transpant! When the weather gets a little nicer, I'm planning a trip to Virginia Beach in 'Miss Daisy' my '60 220S fintail. Maybe I can stop by then.
Good luck with your 190s.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

Mark

A 1960 220S! We all have our special cars and that is one of my favorites. I lived with my grandfather in Stuttgart when I was in high school and I remember him buying a '60 220S, Ivory with the vertical dash, new in 1960. I'd love to see it!

When you are in the area email me robby@ackerman.net. Are you a member of MBCA? I was at their brunch in Chevy Chase last Sunday. We (MBCA) have rented Summit Point March 8 & 9 and VIR for two days in September. Come drive with us! Our members drive their street cars as well as competition cars.

Robby

Robby,
As a kid, I lived in Madrid Spain, in the early '60s where my Dad was stationed at the US embassy. I remember his first Mercedes, a black 220S with red leather. He paid about $2800 for it, new. Years later, when I was in high school, he bought a '60 220SE for $150.
I wish we still had that one.

An elderly friend, Elouise Powell, was the original owner of my 220S and I had helped her out with some of her car problems over the past several years. When she passed away, 2 years ago, she left me her car. Her surviving daughters used to refer to their mother as 'Miss Daisy', so I've nicknamed this 220S in her memory.

I had mixed feelings about taking on a vehicle, that some people would consider truly ancient and I needed another car like I needed another hole in my head. I didn't know if I could get used to driving something with manual steering and drum brakes, but now I really enjoy driving 'Miss Daisy'.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW