Mercedes 190 SL story

The 190SL - History

In Mercedes-Benz nomenclature, the S in SL means Sports and the L means Light (Leicht),

The 190SL is really a touring car, and compared to other four-cylinder, two-seater sports cars of its day, weights 500 to 1000 lb. more; 2558 lb. curb weight..

The 190SL was first introduced into the marketplace with the vision of Max Hoffman,

Mercedes-Benz US importer of cars in the early fifties.

Hoffman's marketing strategy was to take advantage of the 300SL win in the 1952 Carrera Panamericana Mexican road race. He wanted to build on this excitement to sell Mercedes cars, and he especially wanted to sell the yet to be produced 300SL coupe.

The Mercedes 300SL was designed and built as a racing car.

Trying to transform the specially constructed racer into a production automobile was DBAG goal and it was achieved and first produced in August of 1954. Hoffman also recognized a market need for a second, lower priced sports car to complement the 300SL.

the mercedes 190SL was officially introduced at the 1954 New York Auto Show.

As a prototype, it had early dash instrumentation, an air scoop on the hood, and eyebrows only on the front fenders.

Initial deliveries did not take place for fifteen more months with the first production version appearing at the March of 1955 Geneva Auto Show.

The advertised price of the 190SL in 1955 was $3,998 (New York); the 300SL cost $7,463 (NY); the 190SL outsold the 300SL by about eight to one. By 1961 the base price had risen to $5,129 (NY).

According to factory figures, 25,881 190SL's were produced from 1955 to 1963.

Production peaked in 1956 at 4,032 cars and 1963 saw the least number produced, 104.

About 50 percent of the total number of 190SL's produced are estimated to survive, and restoration promises to preserve them.

The 190SL was usually titled in the particular year sold; regardless of year of manufacture.

Production changes were numerous through out the nine years of manufacturing; hence changes occurred by DBAG using chassis and/or engine numbers.

190SL Production Table

Year

Non-USA

USA

Total

Chassis Numbers

1955

897

830

1727

55.00001-55.01727

1956

2183

1849

4032

65.00001-65.04032

1957

1526

1806

3332

75.00001-75.03332

1958

2094

628

2722

85.00001-85.02768

1959

2299

1650

3949

95.00001-95.02398 *
10.014211-10.015762

1960

2713

1264

3977

10.015763-10.019739

1961

2283

1509

3792

10.019740-10.023531

1962

1468

772

2246

10.023532-10.025777

1963

50

54

104

10.025778-10.025881

Total

15513

10368

25881

* Note in the above 190SL Production Table that from 1955-1959 the chassis number begins as the calendar year in reverse. In July/August 1959 a new numbering scheme was employed by DBAG. The serial number now became the cumulative production number of the car.  

Also note that discrepancies in production figures vs. chassis numbers arise due to different record keeping (production versus actual sales) and because 190SL's could either have been never been sold by DBAG or held in the factory in December for a next year delivery.

Data Plates; Chassis, Body, Color Code

and Engine Numbers.

The 190SL's serial number or Vehicle Identification Number (VIN #) is the chassis number found on the chassis data plate, located on the right side firewall; (designations "left" and "right" are to be understood as seen in driving direction). The plate is 5.82" by 1.5" and includes such data as model # (121), style (either 040=coupe or 042=roadster), steering orientation (either 10=left hand drive gearshift transmission or 20=right hand drive gearshift transmission) chassis #, gross weight, permissible weight for each axle, and year of manufacture which is usually found blank. So the chassis number is found on the chassis data plate along with the additional information listed above.
An example of a 1956 190SL chassis number would read " 121-042-10-65.00039". This indicates a 190SL model (121), roadster style (042), left hand gearshift transmission (10), and was the 39th production car in 1956 (65.00039). The chassis number is also stamped on the frame near the voltage regulator. Just above the stamping is a 1" by 3" data plate with the chassis number.

Just next to (right) of the firewall chassis data plate is found a data plate for US imported cars only reading "Made in Western Germany".

The body number is stamped in the left side firewall and is sometimes the same as the chassis number but is usually several numbers off. It's purpose was for the hand-crafted assembly lines at Sindelfingen to identify major component pieces of a particular 190SL prior to assembly. For example, if a 190SL had a body number of 65.00198; then one would except to find stamped (metal only) or written in grease pencil (soft goods only) the number 198. This can be found in places like the backside of the dash, backside of door panels, underside of seats, carpet tags, soft top frame for roadsters, ect.. There is also a body data plate located on the left front door jam, which in later models includes the paint color code. Prior to 1958 the color code data plate was located on the left firewall next to the stamped body number. An example of this number would read "DB 180 G" which represents color code 180 or sllbergrau/silvergrey metallic. The G is paint supplied by Glasurit. H code was paint supplied by Dr. Herberts.

Engine numbering is located on a data plate, left side of engine near the cylinder head. If it is missing from your 190SL there is a good chance the engine has been replaced over the years.

The number includes such information as engine type and model e.g. (M 121 B.II - 121-921) or (M 121 B.IX - 121-928). Note the II=921 and IX=928. The 928 engine was adopted in the summer of 1961 with chassis number 022122.

Other numbers include transmission; stamped on the transmission case; front axle number stamped on left and right steering knuckles; rear axle number stamped on the bottom of rear axle housing; and the steering number stamped on the steering gear case.

Using the above information, let's now survey the major exterior production changes by chassis number.

Bibliography:

Daimler-Benz AG; various parts manuals and production literature.

The Mercedes Collector - Editor Frank Mallory; all issues

THE STAR, MBCA March/April 1984 issue by Will Samples Jr. - Editor Frank Barrett