1960 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL

According to Mercedes-Benz factory records, this 190 SL was originally finished in the attractive color scheme of Black (DB 40) with Red Leather (1079) upholstery and delivered to the US, where it was sold through the New York distributor.

Believed to be a Southern California car from new, the 190 SL’s first recorded owner was San Diego resident Bruce Hake, who acquired the car circa 1969. In 1980, ownership transferred to Rob Petruzzo Jr. and then, in 1982, Audrey Musil purchased the 190 SL. At the time, Ms. Musil was dating Richard Thompson, who owned a 300 SL Roadster (Lot 59), and she wanted a Mercedes- Benz sports car of her own.

Wearing a rare factory hardtop and registered on blue-and-yellow California plates, the 190 SL was enjoyed as a fun weekend car until the mid-1990s, when Ms. Musil applied for non-operational status. For the past 20 years, the Mercedes- Benz has been confined to Ms. Musil’s two-car garage in San Diego, where it has remained in static storage, parked alongside Mr. Thompson’s 1957 300 SL Roadster.

Presented today with a file of registration and service records, the oldest dating to August 1969, this long-lost 190 SL is an ideal candidate for a concours-quality restoration or sympathetic recommissioning. Given its appealing factory specification and charming provenance, this remarkable find is sure to pique the interest of Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts the world over.