Lot details
Registration No: 55 HLX
Chassis No: 12100020022655

PLEASE NOTE: We apologise but this Lot is Withdrawn from our 17th October 2018 Auction.

- 1 of only 562 right-hand drive examples made (from a total production run of 25,881)

- Believed but not warranted to have covered 41,461 miles from new

- Kept garaged since its last MOT certificate expired on 28th June 1985

- Originally part of the Home Delivery Export Scheme and known ownership chain from the 1970s onwards

- Restored during the early 1980s including new floors and four genuine Mercedes-Benz wings

- Comes with Ivory hardtop and Black soft-top roofs

According to its accompanying copy factory Data Card, this particular right-hand drive example was manufactured on 24th October 1961. Reportedly part of the Home Delivery Export Scheme whereby cars could be supplied to a UK user free of purchase tax provided they were exported within six months, the Mercedes-Benz was issued with the London number plate '55 HLX' on 19th March 1964. Where it spent the intervening time is a mystery.

Registered to garagistes S.F. Tebby & Sons of Clifton, Bristol by the 1970s, the 190SL is known to have subsequently belonged to Timothy Westman of Bristol (1977-1979), Jack Hill of Manchester (1979-1982) and Graham Bennet of Barnoldswick (1982-2016) before entering the current ownership.

Treated to an extensive, partially photo-documented restoration during the early 1980s which saw it (a) fitted with new floors and four genuine Mercedes-Benz wings, (b) repainted Ivory White and (c)re-trimmed in Red leather, '55 HLX' is thought to have been kept garaged since its last MOT certificate expired on 28th June 1985.

Believing but not warranting the current odometer reading of 41,461 miles to represent the total covered from new, the vendor also informs us that he has not observed any corrosion on the long dormant Mercedes-Benz. As well as a thorough mechanical overhaul, he feels the two-seater would benefit from a respray, sundry rechroming and fresh tyres etc. Boasting matching chassis, engine and body numbers, this decidedly rare RHD 190SL is offered for sale with assorted documentation, various 1980s restoration photos and an unrestored hardtop.