What car is this? Not FIAT (I think)

[stuartrubin]

Guys, this is off topic, for sure, but I keep seeing an E-Trade ad popping up on my screen with a very lovely convertible. You can't see much of the car, but I'm curious about what it is. Any ideas?

[spiderdan]

Hi Stuart
I'm thinking and old Benz (300SL?)
Check out vid at 19 secs.
https://youtu.be/bQ-lyhcNNzY

[azruss]

59 190SL

[stuartrubin]

Nice job identifying. It's weird; even just seeing the tiniest bit of the car from the picture, I could tell it was a beauty. I googled some images of "Mercedes 1959 190SL" and I was right! Damn, that's a nice looking car!

Maybe if I had $100K lying around I might grab one for puttering around town.

[AFRetired]

You just missed out. http://bringatrailer.com/listing/1957-m ... z-190sl-2/

[stuartrubin]

"though the right-side reverse light is said to remain nonfunctional"
What a piece of crap!

[Jimb]

It wasn't that long ago you could buy one for $25k.
They went thru the roof over the past 5-10 years.

Jim

[rridge]

In 1969 you could pick one up for $1,000 but you had to be prepared to put several times that into the sheet metal restoration. They rusted badly. Parts including the top were pricey. Style is in the eye of the beholder but at the time many thought they looked like a shrunken 300SL. With only a 1.9L four pushing 2,600lbs. a well driven Fiat 124 could take them from a light and the label "hairdresser's car" was tossed about. The arrival of the six cylinder 230SL with its unique and timeless style sealed the position of the 190SL on the bottom rung of sporting Mercedes where it sits to this day. Many were retired to the back of the garage unrestored for decades. But fashions change and time softens harsh verdicts.