All Original Rust: 1956 Mercedes 190 SL

Disclosure: This site may receive compensation from some link clicks and purchases.

Sometimes, by sifting through photos and making observations, one can make some conclusions.  You can look at the listing for this 1956 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL currently for sale with a buy it now price of $24,000 with the ability to make an offer. The background shows quite a few Mercedes, so it is a wonder why they want this car to leave Orange, California. You can view more here on eBay.

It is safe to say there is not much going for this car. There is no engine. There is no transmission. The best this thing has is a steering wheel shaft and the front trunk area. It is still missing quite a few pieces and parts. There is a stamp on the car, all in German, showing possibly the production number?

There is absolutely no interior, not even a floor. Two seats sit on the floor beside the car and they are not in that great of condition. Ratchet straps are holding the car together. This car can’t even claim the glass is good. There is a huge crack in the windshield. It is missing some gauges and other items on the dashboard.

There are a lot of different thoughts that come to mind when looking at this car. It seems like the sellers are asking an awful lot for not a whole lot. Seeing all the other Mercedes in the background and other high-end cars do not sell the car well. It makes it seems as though it is beyond repair that not even those who can afford cars like this want to invest into it.

Auctions Ending Soon

Comments

  1. 71FXSuperGlide

    Sorry, I only have one thought, not a lot of different ones, pertaining to this car – run away, and quickly.

    Like 15
  2. Beatnik Bedouin

    $24K for a pile of rust? Nein danke…

    Like 21
  3. XMA0891

    One has to wonder where a vehicle of this [former] caliber had been for the majority of its 63 years to wind up in this condition – And why it was decided to twitch it out now?
    I think Barn Finds should hold a reader contest for ‘”Top Five “Saddest Cars”‘, or ‘”Worst-Condition Cars Ever Featured”‘.
    Pretty sure this one would take Top Honors on my list anyway.
    At $24 large; tip o’ the hat to the seller – Brassy!

    Like 18
    • Rx7turboII

      I’m pretty positive I know exactly where this car has been sitting the majority of its life! On the deck of the Titanic! LOL

      Like 13
    • Little_Cars Alexander

      How soon we forget the rusty blue 67-68 Camaro a couple weeks back, broken in two, panels sawed off including the roof, with part of the “350” cu on the front fender. This Benz is a close second to this heap! I like the idea of a contest but like everything automotive even our contest would bring out the crazies claiming “as featured on BF” as a premium. Look at Le Mons….

      Like 2
  4. pat gill

    seems to have been wrecked, stripped for parts, dumped in a field, dragged out 30 years later, a dash panel and hood found from another car, bolted on put on Ebay,

    Like 21
    • Pierre

      ….after beeing recently dragged out from the field, stripped for any single remaining parts again, then a hood from another car bolted on to cover a big miserable hole….and put on ebay : shame on the seller who obviously knows someone will end up being ripped of….there is nothing worth left on this sad car.

      Like 10
      • Little_Cars Little Cars

        …bumper guards (3) and maybe the window cranks. All in need of a polishing wheel. And only for a driver-quality recipient. Sad.

        Like 3
  5. Al

    Dieses Auto ist ein Müllhaufen. Es ist keine Museumsqualität. Es ist reiner Müll. Zerstöre es.

    Like 17
    • Gaspumpchas

      Jawohl, Herr Edsel!!

      Like 3
  6. marc

    OMG

    15 years ago I passed up nice daily drivers for $12-18k

    This is a joke. They are lack luster cars living in the shadow of their premium siblings.

    Like 9
  7. Pebblebeachjudge

    All in, restoration would cost 100’000. Absolutely a worthless undertaking of pain, suffering and double the value of a done car. Parts prices are huge now on all old Mercedes.

    Like 4
  8. Michael Vickery

    Not even a good parts car. I see one gauge and the door handles that could be salvaged. They’re insane if they think this car is worth anything. The first person who wouldn’t charge me to haul it away would get it from me.

    Like 7
  9. Bradshaw from Primer

    Sort of a Balloon animal of Rust…..look!!! a doggie, a snakie, a Mercedes 190SL!!!!

    Like 6
  10. Gaspumpchas

    You said it perfectly Pebblebeach…Pain and suffering. Pathetic.

    Cheers anyway

    GPC

    Like 3
  11. Sarah

    Originally, I was thinking that this was another BHCC offering, but it isn’t! Are there any competitions out there for the worst car for the highest price, since this one just might take it!

    Like 8
    • Mike W H

      I’m sure the hustlers at BHCC are asking themselves “how did we let this one get away?”

      Like 2
  12. Chris In Australia

    If the straps holding this POS together are matching numbers, I’m in!

    Like 10
    • Nevadahalfrack NevadahalfrackMember

      A set of matching numbered straps will come a lot cheaper than the case of tetanus you’ll contract by merely LOOKING @ this heap…
      Maybe a celebrity car though, of the “there’s a sucker born every minute” genre..

      Like 1
  13. Mark S.

    Sifting through the photos, I have come to just one conclusion – YIKES!

    Like 5
  14. Shifty

    Have we gone from old cars found in barns to cars pulled out of a West Virginia coal mine?

    Like 1
  15. Eli

    24 maybe…..without the three zeros following it. Absurd. Total nonsense.

    Like 6
  16. Brakeservo

    Remove the straps and any blocks underneath and see the way the Mercedes bends . . .

    Like 13
    • Gsuffa GsuffaMember

      I got it.

      Like 1
  17. NovaTom

    24K? This guy needs to check his calendar — April 1st is a ways off

    Like 6
  18. hatofpork

    Is this listing some new kind of performance art?

    Like 5
    • Chinga-Trailer

      Art?? As in bull $hi+ artist??

      Like 3
  19. MoparMel

    Sorry. but I can’t leave this alone. Enough of sellers that consume all value from a rust bucket then list the half shell for ridiculous money. At least Beverly Hills Car Club usually leaves some hope. You would be better off building a repro body from your own buck of an unobtanium car and shoving an engine, trans, driveline from parts cars to taste. This is clearly an exercise in limited greed by the seller. Sick of it.

    Like 1
  20. Daniel

    Ha ha ha ……

    Like 2
  21. Troy

    I would just get it running, wash it, and drive it…..lol. This is just beyond sad of what this hobby is turning into…..seriously

    Like 5
  22. canadainmarkseh

    What can a guy say that hasn’t already been said, other than anyone willing to pay this much for this crapper must have been sniffing model glue as a kid. It just goes to show you how this was once just another used car, in this case probably sitting in a scrap yard. How these $h!t cans keep escaping the crusher is belong me. Interesting find though keeps us all talking and scratching our heads.

    Like 4
  23. PRA4SNW

    It’s been relisted at the bargain price of $19,900 – LMAO!

    Like 5
  24. Christopher A. Junker

    I’d bid, but I don’t have that much Monopoly money left since buying the 4 railroads. Guy must have thought he could take us for a ride on the Reading.

    Like 3
  25. the one

    Weld two things together that have never been welded together before and some schmuck will buy it!

    Like 2
  26. Kinmont Willy

    Those of us who live through the period considered the 190 SL a car Lady’s car or one for a limp wristed pipe smoking professor who taught English Literature in a finishing school for girls. An uncle of mine who owned a300 SL MB Gull Wing, bought one of these for his spoiled fat obnoxious daughter who was at Radcliffe.

    Like 5
  27. A.J.

    Seller actually calls it “great restoration project”. Almost fell out of my chair when I read that. At least he didn’t say , thought to be previously owned by Steve McQueen. The roller stands under it are worth more than the car.

    Like 3
  28. Bob

    For once, I did not see the word patina written one time… Everyone actually called it rust. Thank you! Most of the rust is still sitting in the field. Not much left here. Is it really worth anything? I hope we see if it actually sells.

    Like 1
  29. Bill

    Not un my lifetime

    Like 0
  30. Jason

    At least they cleaned it up before taking photos :)

    Like 1
  31. Dominique Legeai

    this seller is high on something……who does he think he’s kidding?

    Like 0
  32. Hugh nutting

    Might make an interesting camping trailer for a couple grand.

    Like 0

Leave A Comment

RULES: No profanity, politics, or personal attacks.

Become a member to add images to your comments.

*

Barn Finds