The Mercedes-Benz 190SL, built on the initiative of the US importer Max Hoffman, is based on the technical platform of the W121 saloon series (the Ponton model). The aim was to bring the cabriolet visually as close to its big brother the 300 SL as possible. The performance however, with 105 horsepower compared to 215, was rather lacking. Daimler Benz therefore marketed the 190SL in its sales literature as “touring sports car”. Our example was delivered on the 25th of January 1956 as a so-called Coupé, a cabriolet with a hardtop and the soft top not installed, to the company Heinrich Hellmich in Duisburg. Initially painted dark grey metallic combined with a grey leather interior, the car was finally registered for the first time in August 1968. According to its German documentation, in 1974 and 1975 the ownership changed and eventually the car was stored. Upon its discovery in the mid-2000s the SL, repainted red in the meantime, had a type- and period-correct exchange engine installed and the hardtop was no longer available. The 190 SL was then completely restored, irrespective of cost, by specialists of the Auto Stodala company. All technical components were overhauled or replaced, and the coachwork repainted in the current black together with the seats recovered in tan leather. Photos of the restoration process are available. After completion, the pretty cabriolet was registered once again in May 2010 by an enthusiast from Mühlheim an der Ruhr. At the end of 2015, the 190 SL, which had only covered 750 kilometres since completion of the restoration, was discovered by the vendor at a German dealership and after careful inspection imported into Switzerland. Due to lack of use he now has decided to sell his “summer romance”. With now 1’700 kilometres covered since the restoration, the Mercedes is in outstanding condition and will be sold with the latest Veteran MOT from June 2022.