1957 Mercedes-Benz SL190

 

The car shown in this article is the 1957 Mercedes-Benz SL190 which was an is a popular vintage sports car. The 1957 Mercedes was the automaker’s first widely sold sports car. The S represented “Sports” and the L meant “Light“. The SL190 was sold at the same time buyers could purchase the more costly but faster 300SL.

Both cars were very similar in overall design. Some referred to the 190SL as being the “Little Brother” to the 300SL. In fact, the beginning of the Mercedes-Benz SL’s go back to the Mercedes Gullwing model with it’s two doors that would swing open to the roof line. The car was seen in a James Bond movie and is considered quite rare. Only about 1,400 were ever built.

This car shown, the 1957 Mercedes-Benz 190SL, was imported into the United States by Austrian businessman Max Hoffman who directly distributed the automobiles to U.S. dealers. He began with his Hoffman Motor Company in 1947.

During the 1950’s Hoffman also distributed Volkswagen, Porsche and BMW’s into the U.S. Hoffman was credited with bringing many European sports cars to America. He was the man who helped make these names and more household words in the United States. Hoffman also had an automobile showroom designed for him by well known architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

The 1954 Prototype

After first being introduced as a prototype in 1954 at the New York Auto Show, the Mercedes-Benz SL190’s were in production from 1955 through 1963.

Several modifications were made between the introduction of the prototype in New York  and the beginning of production. After 1963 the 190SL and the 300SL were replaced by the Mercedes 230SL.  The Mercedes 190 SL could be bought as a Roadster with a soft top convertible or with a removable hardtop roof.

 Mercedes-Benz After the War

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