If you want a genuine race car built by the likes of Mercedes-Benz or Porsche, you best have deep pockets and a very connected car broker. Put simply, these lightweight factory racers trade hands within very tight circles and are almost always spoken for before they ever come to market. There’s good reason for this, as the combination of higher-performance, lower weight, and very limited production means it is the ultimate expression of whatever factory model it was born as. This 1961 Mercedes-Benz 190SL is a tribute model built to SLR specifications and is listed here on craigslist for $110,000.

The car shown here is clearly a tribute, but one that hits all the right notes. If you follow vintage sports cars, there’s quite a few “dog whistles” here for your eyes to feast on: lowered suspension, steel wheels, bumper deletes, and even complete removal of the windscreen. Over the years, many SLR tributes have come to market, all of them with some variation on the theme. This is the first one I can recall seeing recently that gets the ride height correct, as the genuine SLRs were quite low slung. The Rennsport windscreen in front of the driver only is another authentic touch; it’s harder to say whether it has the same cut-down doors as the original.

The interior hasn’t been overly modified from stock, with the exception of a handsome Nardi steering wheel. The factory racers had sport seats, I believe, with charming tartan inserts. These appear to be standard 190SL buckets, albeit retrimmed to a high standard. The seller’s photos also show a fire extinguisher mounted between the front seats, which is a nice nod to motorsports use. The carpet kit also appears to be new, and the door panels seem to mimic a true racer-style setup, with no frills and the most basic materials needed to cover the inner workings of the door.

The stock 1.9L inline-four shows no obvious performance modifications, but it may have a hotter cam or upgraded Solex carbs. Some important distinctions about the SLR: Mercedes did build a handful of factory racers, which had success at events like the Macao Grand Prix, but all were believed to have been destroyed. Max Hoffman, the legendary auto importer, convinced Mercedes to offer an SLR “kit” with the cut-down doors and windscreen, but it was a short-lived package. All told, building a replica is the only way to go these days, and this one looks pretty tidy. Thanks to Barn Finds reader T.J. for the tip.