Finished in elegant factory-correct Black (Paint Code DB40H) over a striking Red interior, this 1958 Mercedes-Benz 190SL embodies timeless postwar sophistication. Equipped with a 4-speed manual transmission and showing just 62,000 miles, this example presents as a beautifully balanced grand tourer—graceful yet engaging on the road. The black soft top complements the exterior’s deep luster, while the cabin’s red upholstery adds a vibrant contrast that captures the spirit of 1950s continental motoring.

 

The extensive service records included document a multi-year, comprehensive restoration of this Mercedes-Benz 190SL, including significant metal refurbishment with new floor sections and body panels, full chrome and exterior trim replacement, and complete renewal of all seals and weatherstripping. Mechanically, the car received a thorough engine rebuild supported by professional machine-shop work—hot-tank cleaning, machining, resurfacing, valve and head work, piston fitting, and full reassembly—along with restored carburetors, rebuilt cooling and fuel systems, refreshed ignition components, and a fully overhauled braking system. Suspension and steering components were renewed as needed, while the interior benefited from detailed upholstery restoration, including seat, panel, and soft-top work. Together, these receipts show a carefully executed, ground-up restoration using OEM-spec parts, specialist labor, and meticulous attention to detail, resulting in a substantially renewed and mechanically sorted example.

Under the hood, the car benefits from a dual Weber carburetor setup, offering reliable performance and crisp throttle response. A removed set of Solex carburetors is included with the sale, providing an opportunity for the next caretaker to preserve or fine-tune its period-correct character. Recent maintenance performed in 2025 included removal and reconditioning of the fuel tank, replacement of the fuel lines, filter, and pump, installation of a new air filter and choke cable, cleaning of ignition points and spark plugs with timing reset, and a complete rebuild of both carburetors—ensuring the car is both mechanically fresh and road-ready.

Introduced in 1955 as a more approachable sibling to the 300SL, the 190SL shared much of its styling and engineering ethos, blending sports car performance with refined touring manners. Powered by a 1.9-liter inline-four engine producing approximately 105 horsepower, the 190SL was capable of spirited open-road driving while maintaining Mercedes-Benz’s hallmark comfort and build quality. Its independent suspension and precise 4-speed gearbox made it one of the most versatile sports roadsters of its era—equally at home along the Riviera as it was on winding Alpine roads. Today, the 190SL stands as a symbol of mid-century elegance and one of the most collectible icons from Mercedes-Benz’s golden age.

 

1. BODY, SHEET METAL, & STRUCTURAL WORK

 

• Front floor panel and right inner floor panel ordered from K&K Manufacturing

• Front fender, rear fender, hood, and front/rear bumper components across multiple TLC Restorations invoices

• Multiple bumper brackets, mounting hardware, and trim fasteners

• Reproduction body seals (gasket sets, windshield seals, door seals, trunk seals, etc.) from TLC Restorations

---

2. CHROME, TRIM, & EXTERIOR FITTING
 

Large batches of exterior parts and trim were purchased, including:
 

• Bumperettes, bumper bars, overriders

• Hood & trunk chrome

• Headlight trim rings and seals

• Parking light seals

• Tail light seals

• Grille components

• Chrome hardware kits

TLC invoices (PDF 1 Pages 15–17, 22, 24, 26, 28) show repeated purchases of small trim pieces, indicating meticulous effort to perfect fit & finish.

---

3. ENGINE RECONSTRUCTION & MACHINE WORK

This is the largest and most technical portion of the receipts.

A. Major Engine Rebuild — TLC Restorations

Invoices show:

• Cylinder head disassembly

• Valve service

• Timing gear installation

• Cleaning and blasting of engine parts

• Rebuild materials (gaskets, seals, hardware)

• Labor for assembly, tuning, and running adjustments

B. Machine Shop Work — C.P. Motorworks 

This includes professional machining operations such as:

• Hot tank cleaning

• Crack inspection

• Camshaft polish

• Cylinder boring & honing

• Head resurfacing

• Valve guide replacement

• Seat cutting

• Crankshaft grinding

• Piston fitting

• Complete bottom-end rebuild machining

These invoices represent hundreds of hours of specialized machining

---

4. FUEL SYSTEM & CARBURETORS

The receipts detail:

• Carburetor disassembly, blasting, and rebuilding

• Choke linkage refurbishment

• Rebuild kits, gaskets, jets, and hardware

• Fuel pump parts

• Fuel tank seal kits

• Fuel line hardware

---

5. COOLING SYSTEM

Included parts and labor:

• Radiator servicing

• New clamps and hoses

• Water pump parts

• Coolant pipe restoration

• Thermostat and housing parts

 

---

6. IGNITION & ELECTRICAL

Work visible in receipts:

• Distributor rebuilding

• Ignition wires

• Plugs

• Coil

• Points & condenser

• Voltage regulator work

• Starter service

• Hardware for electrical routing

• Headlight, parking light, and tail lamp seals and housings

 

---

7. SUSPENSION, STEERING & BRAKES

Receipts show:

• Brake hoses, wheel cylinders, rebuild kits

• Master cylinder rebuild

• Shoes, springs, adjusters

• Steering linkage boots

• Front control arm bushings

• Kingpin components

• Rear suspension rubber parts

 

---

8. GLASS, WEATHERSTRIPPING & INTERIOR SEALS

• Door glass seals

• Soft-top header seal

• Windshield-to-body reproduction seal

• Vent window seals

• Interior rubber grommets and seals

• Sound-deadening material

 

---

9. INTERIOR & UPHOLSTERY

• Re-covering door panels

• Rebuilding seat foam & springs

• Cutting and fitting leather/vinyl

• Installing edge trim & tack strips

• Rebuilding soft-top interior panels