Mercedes’ 300SL, introduced in 1954 and developed from the company’s endurance racer, cast a long shadow with its sporty performance and high price. Max Hoffman, born in Austria but making a living in New York as an importer of luxury autos, hinted to Mercedes that broadening its approach to the sports car niche might be wise. We could all wish for such responsiveness on the part of a large company, as it took Mercedes only a year to introduce the 190SL, based on the W121 sedan platform. This new model was equipped with a proficient but modest 1.9-liter four-cylinder motor, a four-speed transmission, hard top or soft top or both, and contours that emulated the 300SL’s artistry. Hoffman was right, as the car sold about 26,000 copies, almost ten times the sales figures for the much more expensive 300SL. Here on eBay is a 1962 Mercedes-Benz 190SL project with an asking price of $77,500. This car is located in El Paso, Texas. The seller is representing the owner and knows very little of the car’s history except that it has been stored for over twenty years. It does bear a European plate in front; perhaps one of our readers knows the country?

This car’s motor and transmission were removed at some point. The engine was disassembled and the block was stored outside the shop where the car resided. The block, some engine parts, and transmission are shown in the listing photos, but it’s difficult to know what’s missing. At any rate, if a buyer were to reassemble everything to stock, he’d have a modest performer, generating 105 bhp, that managed zero to sixty in about 14 seconds. The 190SL was not a barn burner, but it was pretty.

The interior appears salvageable, thanks to indoor storage and very little wear. The 1950s-era metal dash displays the speedometer and tachometer prominently, and of course, the glovebox door is inset with a clock. Alas, the original Blaupunkt has been replaced with a Sanyo. This car comes with both tops, and from the photos, each looks quite respectable. The hardtop matches the exterior paint job, and the soft top appears to be the Haartz fabric type.

A selection of parts comes with the car, including the factory-supplied first aid kit. Still, as noted, the parts supply seems light given the condition of the engine bay. Fortunately, with the rising popularity of this car, suppliers have stepped up – Bud’s Benz is one (best contacted by phone, very knowledgeable); the SLShop is great also. As to price, the rising values of both versions of the 300SL – the Gullwing and the roadster – have dragged 190SL prices far above the levels of just five years ago, for what is frankly not a sparkling performer. Too, at any one time, a prospective buyer will find plenty of 190SLs available, including many that are ready for Cars & Coffee, albeit for a few tens of thousands more than this one. What do you think about the scope of this project versus the asking price?