1959 MERCEDES BENZ Collection Nicoules 190 SL 
Equipped with a rare hard-top opt…
Description

1959 MERCEDES BENZ Collection Nicoules 190 SL

Equipped with a rare hard-top option Little sister to the mythical 300 SL Attractive estimate French registration title Chassis n° 12104010950123 We are in the early 1950s, sports cars are booming on the European continent, and the Mercedes Benz firm successfully launches its emblematic 300 SL. The road version of this racing machine was in full development, when the American importer of the brand, Max Hoffman, asked for a more civilized and less expensive version, adapted to the American market. Thus, in February 1954, the prototype of what would become the 190 SL appeared at the New York Auto Show, alongside the standard 300 SL Gullwing. The style was very similar to that of its sumptuous big sister, and the public was delighted! After a few cosmetic and technical changes, the production model was unveiled at the 1955 Geneva Motor Show. The 190 SL was available in three versions: the roadster with soft top, the roadster with hard top, and finally the - almost - barquette, which will be abandoned very quickly. Its 4-cylinder engine, its robust chassis, and its much more reasonable price than its bigger counterpart, without skimping on the quality of the finishings, bring an immediate success. Sales would only stop in 1963, after 9 years of production! The car we present is a 1959 model, equipped with the very rare and desirable hard-top (of the first generation; a second one, restyled by Paul Bracq, appeared in the second half of 1959). The current owner bought the car in 2007 from the French actor Arsène Jiroyan, and since then has continued to provide it with meticulous maintenance. Today, the car is in good working order: the engine is well tuned, the four-speed gearbox is very pleasant, the suspensions are comfortable... Only the brakes, if they provide a good bite, will need an adjustment to rectify a right-hand bias. Cosmetically, this 190 SL looks good, the paint has a nice patina and panel alignments are good. The most demanding enthusiasts will see that some aspects can be improved: the clock is not original, the front lights are not the right diameter and the driver’s window does not go all the way down. The interior trim has been changed several years ago, and is also very nice. This is a 190 SL in good used condition, equipped with the very desirable hard-top, and presented at an extremely reasonable estimate. The perfect opportunity to drive an iconic late 1950’s luxury Mercedes. 

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1959 MERCEDES BENZ Collection Nicoules 190 SL

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