xiao car has posted a series of shots of a 190 SL he encountered at the curb somewhere in Germany. They’re great photos of a very lovely car, and since today is turning out to be something of an impromptu Mercedes day, it seems fitting to share them here.
I admit to having been something of a snob about the 190 SL for many decades. As beautiful and appealing as it was, my father calling it a damensportwagen at a time when I was still very susceptible to his proclamations left a lingering doubt as to its true worthiness, especially in comparison to its big brother, the 300 SL. Well, compared to that übermaschine, just about every other sports car was a damensportwagen.
A more grownup reading of history (and this excellent vintage review) shows that the 190 SL was a very competitive sports tourer at the time it came out in 1956, even if it clearly wasn’t oriented to amateur racing. It doesn’t deserve that derogatory term, except perhaps in terms of its seductive powers.
Related CC reading:
Don Andreina’s superb design history and analysis of the 190 SL
An excellent Sports Car Illustrated review from 1957 by Griff Borgeson
Who doesn’t love the SL of this vintage? There is a rightness about it – what it lacks in the lightness of the British sports car it more than makes up for in its Teutonic solidity.
Perhaps I don’t pay enough attention, but it doesn’t seem to me that the hefty things over the wheel arches on these cars get the same kind of disrespect as those on the 1949-50 Lincoln Cosmopolitan. Maybe its because Mercedes didn’t chrome-plate theirs.
And then Pontiac brought them back for ’70. Also unplated.
One of the most beautiful Mercedes ever. It has grace, and style. Love the car for being so low. I can understand why modern cars have to be high, but low looks so good!
My attitude towards these has also changed, very much for the better, over the years. I think the fact that so many were fitted with whitewall tires back in the day, didn’t help their image. But then I remember when most pagoda-top W113’s were also so equipped but to me they looked more elegant. In fact, from my 2020’s perspective the 300SL roadsters now look a bit pudgy compared to the 190; though the distinctiveness of the gull wing version is still very appealing. The color scheme, with black walls, of this 190 is particularly nice.
I’m a bit surprised your father paid enough attention to label them a damensportwagen. He didn’t really seem to be into cars.
It is true that the 190SL was not intended for even amateur racing. But it has competed successfully.
At Road America vintage races I have often seen the silver 190SL (carrying # 190) participate. It is not the fastest car but it seems to be the most durable and reliable. It is based in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.
This 190SL is an SVRA car and photos of it can be easily found online.
I miss beautiful cars with curves. Are the uglified cars we see any more aerodynamic?
I find your father’s disdain for the 190SL amusing, because my own father had similar sentiments about it.
I vividly remember going to a car show as a kid and wanting to walk over and look at a 190SL that was there. My father just said “those cars were dogs” and refused to waste time going near it, as if it were poisoned.
I guess everyone’s susceptible to their father’s proclamations, because I carried a similar grudge against the 190SL for quite some time as a result. Like Dman above, my attitude towards these has cars has improved over the years – I find them alluring now, and the cream/red color combination of this example is particularly becoming.
Back in the 1950s it was common for many men to be very concerned over how masculine they appeared and acted. Anyone that didn’t live up to their expectations was going to be in for a rough time. I recently had a buddy of mine who was only 10 or so years older than me, criticize me for describing a Miata as cute. He told me, men don’t describe things as “cute.” I asked him if he’d ever described a girl as cute, “It’s not the same thing! he answered. I guess that things haven’t changed that much.
I was lucky that My Dad never tried to imprint his three boys with the need for hyper-masculinity. He was very even tempered and reasonable, I guess he might have been before his time. Luckily, I turned out like him.
I’ve always loved the 300SL, even from a very young age when most kids would rather pick the lime green alien-looking exotic sportscar.
But ownership is not attainable for me, however the 190SL is. Perhaps in my old age…
Absolutely right to feature this car and these shots on CC – this is surely the coolest convertible ever, even more so than the E type Jaguar (IMHO).
So what if it’s only 1.9 litres and four cylinders. As much as I like and want an E Type this is above and beyond.
I saw a great example at a car show last week – chatting with the owner it transpired that a friend had driven it to the show for her. You should have seen his face when she asked him to drive it back too! Lucky chap, lucky owner too.
I find the 190 SL charming and so what if it isn’t fast?
With the top down and the wind in your hair its all about the driving experience. Prices continue to rise as they are somewhat affordable? I’d be game for one, if I had the cash and room inside to park it.
The 190SL’s connection with the sordid death in 1957 of a Frankfurt prostitute was even speculatively linked to a temporary drop in the roadster’s sales but more conventional economics probably accounted for that. A similar murder in Frankfurt a decade-odd later seemed not to affect W111 sales, despite that unfortunate young lady owning a 220SE cabriolet.
https://nihilistnotes.blogspot.com/search?q=Roadster