w121 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Roadster an elegant and sporty two-seated GT car,1958
Published at : November 20, 2021
190 SL Roadster https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/5555-1958-mercedes-benz-190sl-convertible/
When Mercedes-Benz released the fabulous 300SL coupe in 1954, it was a success, although sales were limited to those who could afford a car that cost three times what the new Corvette roadster cost. One of the greatest marketing minds in America’s post-war import automotive world was Max Hoffman. In the fall of 1953, at a special board meeting in Stuttgart, he recommended that Daimler-Benz should develop a lightweight, sporty car based on their new and popular 180 series that could reflect the styling of the 300SL. Fritz Nallinger was given the task and within five months had produced a working prototype ready for exhibition at the 1954 New York Auto Show. Designated the 190SL, it won rave reviews based on its looks and it was announced production would begin for the 1955 model year.
Mounted on a detachable subframe 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, this M121 power unit produced 105bhp at 5,700rpm, an output sufficient to propel the 190SL to 100km/h in 14.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 171km/h. The fact that the 190's ride was more boulevard than sporting, and that many contemporary sports cars could outperform it while costing a good deal less, did nothing to deter sales. The model was a big hit in the US, where a good percentage of the slightly fewer than 26,000 produced between 1955 and 1963 found homes.
#w121 #mercedes190sl #slclass #oldbenz
source: Hyman Ltd
When Mercedes-Benz released the fabulous 300SL coupe in 1954, it was a success, although sales were limited to those who could afford a car that cost three times what the new Corvette roadster cost. One of the greatest marketing minds in America’s post-war import automotive world was Max Hoffman. In the fall of 1953, at a special board meeting in Stuttgart, he recommended that Daimler-Benz should develop a lightweight, sporty car based on their new and popular 180 series that could reflect the styling of the 300SL. Fritz Nallinger was given the task and within five months had produced a working prototype ready for exhibition at the 1954 New York Auto Show. Designated the 190SL, it won rave reviews based on its looks and it was announced production would begin for the 1955 model year.
Mounted on a detachable subframe 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, this M121 power unit produced 105bhp at 5,700rpm, an output sufficient to propel the 190SL to 100km/h in 14.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 171km/h. The fact that the 190's ride was more boulevard than sporting, and that many contemporary sports cars could outperform it while costing a good deal less, did nothing to deter sales. The model was a big hit in the US, where a good percentage of the slightly fewer than 26,000 produced between 1955 and 1963 found homes.
#w121 #mercedes190sl #slclass #oldbenz
source: Hyman Ltd
mercedes190slmercedes-benz