Spanish title
Chassis No 55000359
Engine No 5500289

- The 359th 190SL produced!
- Offered new to Princess Marie-Louise of Bulgaria
- In the same family since 1967!
- No reserve

This 3-seater Mercedes 190SL is exceptional in many ways. First of all, this is the 359th example produced, one of the very first to leave the factory. It was registered for the first time in Spain on 9 December 1955 in order to be gifted to Princess Marie-Louise of Bulgaria for her 23rd birthday, as confirmed by an email from the secretariat of His Majesty King Simeon and according to the original number plate. During that time, the royal family was exiled in Spain. This elegant white convertible with red leather interior is equipped with a dashboard conform to the original and covered with a thin silver leaf, probably as a personal request from its first owner. It is in this configuration that the current owner's father acquired it in January 1967 and drove it until 1980. The car was then stored and finally offered to his son in 1993. It was at this time that it was repainted, the soft top redone and the upholstery revised in order to satisfy a technical inspection carried out in 1996, before being stored again after travelling no more than 500km. The bodywork is sound and we have noticed an old repair of the flooring which should be redone. The upholstery is now pleasantly patinated. A major service has just been carried out at the Mercedes specialist La Cochera in Madrid. The fuel tank was replaced, the front axle restored (rings, ball joints, silent blocks, etc.), the engine inspected, tyres and shock absorbers changed. Full details of the work are available upon request. With such a unique history, this 190 SL will not fail to attract collectors' attention, as it stands out from other examples available on the market.

Full catalogue and more photos https://www.artcurial.com/en/sale-4315-retromobile-2023-artcurial-motorcars