During the 1950s, when Mercedes-Benz were the dominant force in top-level motorsport, the undisputed flagship of the firm’s production car range was the stunning 300SL sports car. Highly desirable as it was, it was also financially out of the reach of most enthusiasts. Keen to capitalise on the 300SL’s numerous competition successes and find a foothold in the increasingly lucrative sports car market, Mercedes-Benz introduced its smaller stablemate, the equally beautifully engineered 190SL. The 190 SL was powered by a new, slightly over-square, 1.9-litre straight-four SOHC engine that developed 120bhp with twin-choke dual Solex carburettors and, when mated with a four-speed manual gearbox, endowed the sleek aerodynamic and comparatively light 190 SL with a top speed of 115mph and a respectable 0-60 time of 13.0 seconds. The fact that the 190's ride was more 'boulevard' than sporting, and that many contemporary sports cars could out-perform it while costing a good deal less, did nothing to deter sales. The 190 SL cemented Mercedes-Benz's reputation as the car manufacturer for those who wanted elegance, build quality and a good turn of speed and, unsurprisingly, most of the 26,000 units were sold to the North American market with some 562 arriving in the UK in right-hand drive.

The car presented here is a 1961 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Roadster, an original UK-market right-hand drive example, that was supplied new through Mercedes-Benz of Brentford and still carries its original and desirable Middlesex registration number of 1650 MF. Remarkably, this car has always been registered within 50 miles of its point of delivery. It remains matching numbers and has a comprehensive history including an MOT from 1978, a notebook outlining one owner’s daily journeys in 1974, its original logbook, bills and a rare original Owners Manual. Our car-enthusiast vendor has contacted all the previous owners except one and is able to verify the indicated mileage of 86,000. The car has all-original panels including the aluminium boot, bonnet and doors, and is an extremely rare, unmolested survivor with its original glass, steering wheel, badges, working glovebox clock plus its foot-operated windscreen washer pump. The beautiful original red leather seats with a wonderful patina are still in place.

In 1995, the car was a recipient of a high-quality, bare-metal restoration and was found to be in remarkable condition. Further to this, in 2010, a total repaint in Mercedes White (DB050) was carried out (including the application of an epoxy bodyguard for added protection), plus a mechanical overhaul costing £40,000 in total. During the past three months, the engine, steering, brakes, clutch and original Solex carburettors have been overhauled and a new exhaust fitted at a cost of £8,500, all carried out by a well-known Mercedes-Benz specialist. Brand new Mercedes carpets have also just been fitted at a cost of £1,400. Our discerning vendor, with decades of special car ownership and knowledge, informs us that this elegant "car starts first time and drives beautifully, with a smooth gear change and excellent oil pressure". It has an MOT until July 2023 (with no advisories) and is accompanied by a Mercedes-Benz Club Certificate of Authenticity (see image) and a period Mercedes-Benz toolkit.

If condition and originality are King & Queen to classic cars, this 190 SL is truly blue-blooded. The car represents the style of true Mercedes-Benz sportscar motoring in the 1950s and 1960s and offers as much pleasure to drive today as it did when manufactured in 1961.