Mercedes 190 SL

I personally prefer the next SL: 230, 250, 280SL.

All of these cars are rather truckish in their handling characteristics.

 

They're pretty cars. That's about all I know about them.
I am looking for a XK120 right now. Which brings me to the other thing I know about old cars: They're a ***** to find, and the owners are dillusional

 

back then they were the "affordable" version of the 300sl. like now the SLK reassembles the SLR. As for maintenace, expect what you would expect with an old mercedes. I've never heard of big major issues or concerns from these cars, they are pretty well built cars. The drawback... a 1.9 liter four cylinder engine. so dont expect to be blowing the doors off anything.

I personally like them.

 

yes it would be lots of fun, until u try and work on it, a few friends of mine tried fixing up a 230SL, we didnt really have that much $$$ to drop on it, but everything about them is expensive. the sun shades are $800 each!, and to change the damn oil you need a 16MM star/hex/nut thing that no place has ever heard of...

however if you have more money than some kids and have a good place to get some service done then it could be fun... not many major issues with the engines as they seem to go on forever, however the trannys seem to be problem points but are "relative" easy fixes...

i would look for a better example than that one, that one looks terrible..

 

I had a 230SL years ago and I remember having to buy some odd socket from the Snap-On guy in a parking lot because no body else had it. I think it was just a very large hex, prob the one to which you refer.

 

You can get them with manual transmissions, you know.

 

They are great cars!!
For around $20k I would say it is the bottom end of the price.A nice one is about $35-$40k.I have seen them sell for way more than that but the cars were Concours condition.

 

I'm old enough to remember when they were nearly worthless. They are slow and heavy, but make for a nice cruiser if you're not in any hurry. The later cars were much better drivers.

I helped a buddy put a 289 4sp into a 190. I think all finished (buying the car, paitning it, building the motor, dropping it in, etc) he had about $8000 in the car (this was 1985). The car was transformed into a very nice driver.

But then in the 90's these cars were rediscovered and the values started shooting up. I'm sure by now someone has "undone" our work on that V8 car.

Sorry, but I just don't see why they're bringing the money they are. But then I don't understand why Thunderbirds or Mustangs do either....

Bill

 

I guess that description could apply to alot of cars that we consider classics today.Yes most old cars are slow compared to todays standards and didn't cost much back in the day etc... BTW, a 190SL weighs only about 2500lbs.