This benchmark example of the W121 chassis Mercedes-Benz is a multiple time Best-of-Show Winner at 190SL Convention meets given its exceptional restored condition and extreme attention to detail throughout with early production features such as desirable bucket seats faithfully preserved. As a matching numbers example restored in original colors to a level rarely seen on the 190SL model, this impeccable Mercedes comes with a custom made 5-piece luggage set, comprehensive restoration receipts, books, model literature, original tools and a longstanding reputation as one of the very best of examples of its kind found anywhere in the world.
Highlights
- 2x 190SL Convention Best-of-Show winner
- No-expense-spared restoration
- Desirable early production W121
- Chassis no. 121040-10-5500458
- Engine no. 121921-10-5500513
- Body no. 5500452
- Special order US delivery
- Matching numbers
- DB 190 graphite grey paint
- 1079 red leather
- 708 light-grey soft top
- Becker Mexico radio
- Copy of factory data
- Original tools, bag and jack
- Books and literature
- Comprehensive restoration receipts
- 40,507 original miles
Best Of Show
According to its factory data card, this multiple-time best of show winning Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster was imported new to the United States by Mercedes-Benz Distributors, New York on September 6th, 1955. This early production W121 chassis Mercedes-Benz was specified new painted DB 190 graphite grey with an interior trimmed in 1079 red leather interior accented by red carpets and was fitted with a 708 light grey soft top. Of note, the 190SL was optioned new with special paint and upholstery, a Becker Mexico Radio with Hirschmann antenna, instruments in English, sealed-beam headlights, windshield wipers and 1 kg of extra DB 190 nitrocellulose lacquer paint.
As an early production example of the 190SL, chassis 5500458 was born with unique, and today very desirable traits, that the vast majority of W121 chassis Mercedes-Benz cars did not exhibit when new. Notable among these rare original traits are the presence of buckets seats, turn signals that use levers attached to the steering wheel, metal vent levers as opposed to plastic, factory glass reflectors in the rear of the car and a short wave radio (not installed but with the car). Also noteworthy on the dash is the noticeably absent clock, a nuance only found on on the first 190SL’s that Mercedes built. All of these early traits have been faithfully retained in the comprehensive restoration of the car yielding a truly authentic and rare presentation of the early production 190SL’s.
The following historical notes were compiled on this exceptional 190SL Roadster by Mercedes-Benz historian and founder of Gullwing Service Company (now Paul Russell Company) Alex Dearborn. While the earliest private ownership history of this special Mercedes remains somewhat of a mystery, in 1961 a gentleman and Holden, Massachusetts native by the name of Bill Hill purchased the car from what is thought to have been the first owner.
By 1996, with 39,362 miles on the odometer and having been parked static in Bill Hill’s garage along with 4 other 190SL’s since 1962, the 190SL was purchase by Alex Dearborn and noted as being in an all original condition. In 1998, Mr. Dearborn, in conjunction with 190SL guru restorer Bruce Adams of SLR Restorations in North Carolina, sold the car to Lawrence Lonnon of Astoria, Oregon. By late 2003, the car had only 39,602 original miles on it in January of 2004 an intensive ‘nut-and-bolt’ rotisserie restoration began under the guise of Sport Leicht restorations with the goal of producing an exact original representation of what the car looked like when first delivered new in the fall of 1955.
In 2004 the car won Best of Show the International 190SL Convention in Sonoma, California with a 2011 advertisement by Paul Russell Company declaring it “probably the best 190SL in the world. Fanatically restored, detailed top to bottom. National Show Winner. None better”. As a testament to the staying power and exceptional quality of the restoration work performed on the car, this early production 190SL again won Best of Show at the 2023 International 190SL Convention, this time held in Beaufort, South Carolina where it soon after became the cover car for the 190SL Group’s spring edition of Mercedes-Benz 190SL Enthusiast Magazine.
Today, this 190SL Roadster is in a stunning, concours quality condition throughout with retention of original delivery specifications seen everywhere. Importantly, the car retains its original, finely tuned Solex carburetors that are often times missing from W121 chassis cars and all factory original numbered components including its original chassis (458), body (452), engine (513), transmission (523), steering box (430), front axle (532/4) and rear axle (518). All original tags including engine, body and chassis remain with the car and are installed, and, in addition to retention of all of the original components, the car is wearing its original factory specified original livery of DB 190 grey paint over 1079 red leather and red carpets with a 708 light grey soft top.
This benchmark W121 chassis Mercedes-Benz 190SL is a multiple time Best of Show Concours winner having been restored by 190SL experts in no-expense-spared fashion; a 190SL restored to a level commensurate with the quality seen on the finest restored 300SL’s in the world. This special Mercedes-Benz comes with comprehensive restoration invoices from SLR, 5-piece matching luggage set, owners manual, tools, copy of factory data card, original 190SL dealer brochure and 190SL Enthusiast Magazine featuring the car. Very few cars can honestly claim to be the best of their kind, as noted by Mercedes-Benz experts Paul Russell Company and by the International 190SL Group, this early production W121 certainly qualifies for consideration as if not the very best, certainly one of the finest 190SL’s in the world.
