MERCEDES-BENZ 190 SL 1955 - 1963

Here you see a 1958 model without the optional front bumper guards. On the roadster models the chrome trim on the "eyebrows" on the fenders were optional (standard on the coupés), but it's hard to find a 190 SL without these strips nowadays. They may look nice, but are considered a major cause of rust since water tends to get stuck underneath.
The 190 SL is without doubt a very well built and solid car constructed out of high quality parts with much attention to detail, but it's weak point is that it's rust prone. This should be a major point of attention when maintaining or buying a car like this. Notorious problem parts are the doorsills and the front- and rear fenders. The doors, the engine cover and the boot lid are made of aluminum and are therefore rust-free; at the end of 1956 the gauge of these panels was even enlarged from 1,25 mm to 1,5 mm for reasons of rigidity.

The rear of this 1958 car shows the new number plate lighting in the bumper guards, which replaced the separate light ornaments in 1956. This car also has the turn signal-lights under red glass that were introduced in October 1957 for the 190 SLs sold in the USA. European cars remained to have the orange glass in the bottom part of the rear lights. In front the lenses of the turn signal-lights were replaced in 1958 by new twist-off style lenses made of clear plastic (not fitted on this car).
An other change in 1958 was the replacement for safety reasons of the Perspex sunblinds by padded ones covered with Tex-vinyl or leather.

Here you see a 190 SL coupé with the original style hardtop with small rear window. Up to 1956 the hardtop was made from aluminum and from then on it was constructed out of double-wall steel, which made it a lot harder to remove it. The hardtop was lined with Tex-vinyl and chrome trimming was fitted around the rear window and on the trough above the side windows.
A disadvantage of the small rear window was that it made the interior seem very cramped and claustrophobic. Also it limited visibility; enough reason to consider a redesign. And so this style of hardtop was replaced by an improved one in 1959.

Continue the tour by clicking the arrows pointing right....