1957 Mercedes 190SL RHD

For those insufficiently wealthy to afford its hyper-expensive race-bred sports car - the 300 SL - Mercedes-Benz offered the less exotic but no less refined 190 SL. Announced in 1954 and based on the 180 Saloon whose all-independently-suspended running gear it used, the 190 SL did not enter production until January 1955, the delay being caused by alterations aimed at strengthening the saloon's shortened platform to compensate for the open body's reduced stiffness. "Very few new sports cars have been so eagerly awaited or so long in coming as the moderately priced SL version of the Mercedes-Benz," observed Road & Track magazine. Mounted on a detachable sub-frame along with the four-speed manual gearbox, front suspension, and steering, the power unit was a 1,897cc overhead-camshaft four - the first such engine ever to feature in a Mercedes-Benz. Breathing through twin Solex downdraft carburetors, the M121 unit produced 105bhp DIN (120bhp SAE) at 5,700rpm, an output sufficient to propel the 190SL to 100km/h (62mph) in 14.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 171km/h (106mph). With its four-speed, all-synchromesh gearbox, servo-assisted hydraulic drum brakes and fully independent suspension, the 190 SL was both more refined and more modern than any contemporary British sports car. Built to the highest standards and among the quickest comparable cars of the time, the 190SL featured a well-appointed cockpit, notable comfort for its occupants and relatively generous luggage space. Under the circumstances, even the steep asking price did nothing to deter purchasers and the model was a big hit in the USA where many of the slightly fewer than 26,000 produced between 1955 and 1963 found homes.

Declared manufactured in 1957, this Jet Black, right-hand drive, manual 190SL was imported into the UK on the 8th, February, 1988. After a couple of owners had enjoyed the car and moved on, it became the property of Alan Lyddon in the mid-nineties and he was to spend a dozen years with the Mercedes before passing it on to a family member, Scott Lyddon on 26/06/12. He in turn, used the car for a couple of years before it came into the possession of our vendor who added it to his collection of stylish and important cars.

It does appear that all through its UK history, owners have done their best to keep this elegant little 190SL in decent condition and none more so than Alan Lyddon who seems to have had two goes at it.

During the 02/03 period, the car appears to have been extensively restored. There are around 60 separate invoices covering this period totaling over £17,000 (Jacksons Mercedes-parts-£5,834. James Nicoll-£7,361, Sundry Mercedes specialists £4,075). Some years later in May 2012 he spent a further £6,537 with Circuit Motors at Castle Combe, again with invoices attached. There is such a huge quantity of information with this car that it's impossible to list here, but any interested purchaser is welcome to look at the history file.

Our vendor purchased this car on 13/05/14 and, once again, KSU 701 has been subject to significant expenditure in late 2015 and early this year.

The car presents superbly in Gloss Black with a Black interior and exudes the many years of maintenance and renovation to which it has been submitted by proud owners. As can be imagined, the history file is quite large and every aspect of this car's mechanical and physical recent past is in there. It will arrive at auction with a fresh MOT.

Anyone remotely interested in buying a 190SL will have spent some time researching the market, and a good look at the car and a bit of time poring over the 100 or so invoices since 2002, may convince you that KSU 701 is the right one.