Seat frames

Once the seats were stripped down the frames were found to be in excellent condition and other than rechroming the section at the bottom of the seat back rests, the seat adjusted and a touch of paint nothing is needed to them.

Will pointed out that the crayon marks for the build\upholstery option can still be seen on the frames.

Interior retrim

When the car was bought it had cloth/nylon over covers fitted and glued over the original leather ones.

Whilst the door panels and tops were reasonable 40 years had taken their toll and it. The carpets had seen better days and when Will removed the seats and front rubber mating a few mice nests were discovered along with missing wooden floor bording.
It was decided to undertake a full retrim on the car including carpets, seats, the hood cover,and leather around the hood cover stowage area. I have also decided to fit a rear jump seat to the car.

The materials have now arrived and the trimmer is getting ready to start work on the car. The match for the leather was found to be best in the glove box area which was unaffected by light etc.

Radiator

When The radiator was removed it has heavily silted up and not looking good overall. It was decided that a new core would be advisable and this has now been fitted.

What restoration is planned?

Priorities in the restoration are as follows, Rebuild the running gear, particularly front and rear suspension and brakes, retrim the interior and hood/hard top lining, including adding a rear jump seat. There is some small body work required to the righthand wheel well in the boot and some repairs to the inner front wings.

After this, and subject to money the priorities are a repaint in the original colours and rechroming some items.
here is a photo of each area to give an idea of what is required. (all courtesy of Will Samples)

On the plus side for the car, whilst it has been poorly maintained during its last few years on the road it is very original and a good starting point for a nice drivable car.

The Car's original details

Our 190SL is a 1962 model and was originally DB166 - Blue/Gray with a black hood and hard top. It was delivered new to its first owner on 13 January 1962 in Oslo. It then spent the majority of its life in Germany, where it was resprayed by Mercedes in the current all silver scheme, before being exported by its owner with her back to her home in the US.

Here is a photo of a 190SL in what I believe is the original colour scheme.

Here are the culprits!!!!

Here is a photo of Hannah & Jon House in Hannah's car that we drove across in California and which persuaded us to finally buy a 190SL.

How I found our 190SL

I have admired the 190SL since a trip as a school boy to the Mercedes museum in Germany in the 1960s. I often looked at buying one but never got round to it.

On a trip to California in June 2004 I drove the 190SL belonging to the wife of a friend and really enjoyed it, as did my wife and daughter. He also told me about a second 190SL he had bought which had been in one family from new and later told me he had decided to sell it .

I bought the car in July 2004 and it rests at the moment with leading 190SL expert Will Samples at S & S Imports in Dallas, Texas awaiting restoration work.