Reader Jay L just submitted this barn find he uncovered in the country side of Ohio. Being a major car guy and an amateur auction hunter, he ran across this 1957 Benz 190SL while perusing a local auction catalog. The vehicle had been in storage for years and the original owner had left it to his wife who knew little about it’s history. After learning of this car, Jay submitted information about the auction to Wayne Carini of the TV show, Chasing Classic Cars and other dealers in hopes of receiving a finder’s fee. Jay was unable to attend the estate auction, but he later learned that the car sold for $15,000. It will be interesting to see where this barn find reappears and for how much in the next few weeks.

The 190SL landed on showroom floors in 1955 and were sold alongside their faster and more expensive 300SL sibling. The 190SL was powered by Mercedes straight four that produced 104 hp. This engine was essentially a cut down version of the 300SL’s straight six. While the 300SL’s engine proved to be powerful and reliable, the 190SL was a bit anemic and troublesome. The dual twin-choke Solex carburetors proved difficult to synchronize, causing the engine to run rough. The car did however make its way into the racing world, but the 4 cylinder proved too weak to be a serious competitor.

This car came with the optional hardtop, which tacked on an extra $300 to the retail price in 1957. It appears this particular car has been sitting for a very long time and is missing a few pieces, but the body looks to be in good shape. These cars are becoming more popular, as the price for it’s big brother, the 300SL, has increased so much. Be sure to keep an eye out, barn finds are still out there! We would like to thank Jay for this great submission.