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Elegance before sport - Mercedes-Benz 190 SL in the (historic) test

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Created on June 1, 1960

Reading time 9min

Written by:

Heinz Kranz

Photos:

Archiv

37

Archiv

37

Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1958) - die Mercedes-Leute nannten diese Version Roadster, was aber nicht ganz den Konstruktionsgegebenheiten entspricht

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1957) - der Tourensportwagen mit aufgesetztem Hardtop begegnet automobiler Historie in Form eines Citroën Légère

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1956) - Elegante vom 300 SL beeinflusste Karosserie-Form

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1957) - offen ist vom Faltdach nichts zu sehen

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1957) - schmucke Erscheinung

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1957) - das geschlossene Faltdach passt harmonisch in die Gesamtlinie

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1957) - stolz träger der SL den Stern auf der Brust

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1957) - im Rückspiegel hielt wohl mancher den kleineren 190 SL für einen 300 SL

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1956) - Das Dach lässt sich auch von einer einzelnen Person öffnen

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1955) - Interieur des Touren-Sportwagens

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1956) - Einladendes Interieur mit Kübelsitzen vorne

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1955) - Einstieg in das Cabrio mit aufgesetztem Coupé-Dach

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1957) - Lenkrad und Amaturenbrett

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1956) - Am Lenkrad des 190 SL

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1956) - Die Rücksitze sind gut zugänglich

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1956) - 190 SL mit Coupé-Dach

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1955) - Blick in den Motorraum des Touren-Sportwagens

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1956) - Vollgepackter Motorraum

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1957) - Blick in den Motorraum

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1956) - Kofferraum und Ersatzrad

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1957) - Kofferraum mit Ersatzrad

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1956) - Überdachter Raudausschnitt

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1955) - der Tourensportwagen

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1955) - der Touren-Sportwagen mit geschlossenem Stoffdach

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1956) - mit aufgesetztem Hardtop

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1957) - Silhouette des deutschen Tourensportwagens

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1957) - mit aufgesetztem Hardtop

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1959) - Der SL mit dem neuen Coupé-Dach mit vergrössertem Heckfenster

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1957) - im offenen Zustand schmuck anzuschauen

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1957) - Stoffdach geschlossen

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1958) - mit aufgesetztem Hardtop

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1958) - das Werk nannte diese Ausführung 190 SL Coupé

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1957) - der Wagen wirkt etwas jünger als der grössere Bruder 300 SL

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1958) - offen am schönsten, die Bezeichnung Roadster war allerdings nicht adäquat

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1958) - offene Version in schöner Umgebung abgebildet

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1955) - mit abnehmbaren Coupé-Dach

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1955) - Durchsichtzeichnung des 190 SL Roadsters

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Summary

The Mercedes-Benz 190 SL was the entry-level sports car for some in the 1950s, although it was not exactly a super sports car in terms of driving characteristics and performance. On the other hand, it scored points when it came to presence and design. This historical test report describes the strengths and weaknesses of the "little star". Many pictures from back then show the 190 SL in all its details.

This article contains the following chapters

Sporty, but only in terms of flair
How to build sports cars
Just as fast, but heavier than the Porsche
Compact beauty
Everything you could wish for in a sports car
Moving up in class made easy
Probably the fastest utility car
Thirsty and expensive, but also a real Benz

Estimated reading time: 9min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Even more than the 300 SL, the Mercedes-Benz 190 SL of the German economic miracle seems to be a dream car - a dream for the miracle's wealthy owners, but also a dream for others who can't afford it. Daimler-Benz was never at a loss to sell this vehicle, which was carried by the child in the man, by the sporty flair of this car, which radiated to its owners, even though they were rarely real motor sports enthusiasts. This is because the 190 SL has never been able to achieve great sporting merits in its class, in the shadow of the fast and light Porsches, Healeys or fast Italians. The 190 SL is a sporty and elegant utility vehicle that is very fast on the road and also offers the opportunity to participate successfully in small-scale sporting events. This definition does not come from me, but from an official announcement by Daimler-Benz AG. It is correct, and for this reason the 190 SL is also classified as a touring sports car in the Mercedes-Benz range.

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