MERCEDES 1961 190SL PROPERLY RESTORED BY 190SL SPECIALIST- 48,000 MILES FROM NEW

Offered for your serious consideration is this impeccable 1961 190SL coupe/roadster.A Canadian car from new, recently imported to the U.S. with proper documentation and taxes paid. Ground up restoration by Precious Metal Automotive and driven only 200 miles since. It is a 3-owner car with 48,000 actual miles from new. There are many 190SL's available, but very few measure up to this one, so if you are interested in a car with great probability for future appreciation, this may be the one for you. Photos were taken 27 August, 2016 and car has been in covered heated storage since. Please ask all questions before bidding- they will be answered promptly, fully, and honestly.Here are some highlights:
Optically straight body panels All numbers match the data card or build sheet, including the hardtop and engine Only NOS and OEM parts were used unless they were not available at time of restoration-4 new factory fenders, nose panel, headlamp buckets, rocker panels and tail panel have been properly installed and fitted per factory specs with no overlap at body part connecting edges- parts were cut to fit and butt-welded together, thereby eliminating premature rust-through as is common with lesser, cost-priority restorationsBody panel weld seams were sealed with lead-no fiberglass or plastic filler used Sparkling, mirror-bright chrome (many pieces are NOS!) Numerous records from all 3 owners from 1961 to 2016 Available on Youtube is a 75-minute video (Search for "1960 190SL Restoration"- the car is actually a '61, but somehow the year got wrongly posted on Youtube)Also included is an hour-by-hour journalof the restoration hand-written by the technicians who did the work. Engine rebuilt by Ontario vintage Mercedes specialists,December, 2014 Original heater boxes and Solex carbs in very good condition- carbs have good throttle shaft to bushing fit- no air leaksScarce coupe/roadster option (only a small percentage were sold with hardtop). In museum-like storage for a large part of its life, hence the very low miles- less than 1000 miles per year Was in possession of the most recent owner for 27 years Restored to original specifications except for a few sensible upgrades (stainless steel exhaust, 2-stage base-coat/clear-coat paintwork, modern tires, carpeting in place of rubber mats, etc.)Proper fit of intake/exhaust manifolds to cylinder head- no air leaksNew high quality car cover included (By Beverly Hills Motoring Accessories)Documented provenance and mileage Realistic price, tens of thousands below current replacement cost.
190SL's with documented mileage this low and records as extensive are very rarely found.Photos don't do this car justice- it looks better in person.
Only serious offers considered. Low-ball offers are a waste of your time and mine and will automatically be declined by Ebay). If you find a COMPARABLE car at a lower price, I recommend you buy it as each day more 190SL's are being parted out as the value of the parts increases
If you're looking to buy a high-point car at well below market cost, we may beable to do business
NOTE: The hardtop has not been restored and needs a new headliner but is complete with all mounting hardware (used h'top hardware alone sells for about $1000!). Likewise, the door panels are not restored but are in very good original condition as shown in the photos.
Your personal inspection is encouraged and welcomed. Car is located in the Grand Rapids, MI. area. Complimentary airport pickup included (GRR).
ABOUT THE RESTORATION- Precious Metal Automotive Investment Company, LLC was founded by Rich Splaine who was the principal hands-on restoration technician and chief operating officer until his retirement after 15 years in the business. The company's sole function was the restoration of collectibleMercedes cars. Rich is a life-long collector of classic Mercedes cars and has personally owned more than 30, including about a dozen 190SL's. He was a charter member of the International 190SL Group (membership number 007) and was often privileged to serve as judge and/or chief judge at the Group's annual meet and concours d'elegance. During his tenure at Precious Metal Automotive, Rich and his associates restored 75 190SL's, plus many Ponton coupes and cabrios, W113, W189, W187, W198, and other collectible M-B's- even an occasional pre-war model. And, yes that is correct- seventy five ground-up 190SL restorations- has anyone restored more?
Please ask all questions before bidding. If you want more photos or details, feel free to ask- they will gladly be provided upon request. Shipping cost is the responsibility of buyer, but shipping advice and help with shipping arrangements will be provided by seller if you wish. World-wide shipping is no problem. Winning bidder will provide $500 non-refundable deposit via Paypal, final payment including shipping costs to be in cash or wire transfer within a reasonable time after auction end. Possession of the car and ownership documents will be held until receipt and irrevocable clearance of payment in full is received. No warranty, expressed or implied is given- car is offered as-is, where-is.
Words of advice from experience:In case you are thinking of buying a "bargain priced" 190SL and restoring it to high standards, please step back and rethink before you jump into that money pit. To begin with- a typical unrestored 190SL with all parts is hard to find for less than $50,000, and a matching-numbers car is even scarcer as many havereplacementengines- typically with the less desireable 190 sedan engine. If you think you have found a viable candidate for restoration, before you buy it first determine what parts it will be needed to meet your requirements as the finished project. Then investigate the current availability and cost of the parts needed. Make sure you thoroughly inspect the frame and floors- they are always rusty and may have been badly patched, requiring expensive and possibly destructive re-do .Don't ignore the small parts as they can be a major cost factor. Prices are constantly increasing and every day more and more parts are becoming "No Longer Available". I strongly encourage you to search Ebay for 190SL parts- the prices for original parts (NOS or used) will make you gasp. Reproduction parts are sometimes of dubious quality and of lesser value to future buyers if you some day intend to sell the car. Also look into sublet expenses such as chrome plating, machine work, upholstery, painting, etc. and don't forget to make substantialallowance for all the unplanned for and expensive "surprises" that always show up during such a project. In summation- a car equal to the one presented here, if restored from a typical unrestored 190SL, would have an end cost of $150,000-$200,000 at today's prices, and that assumes you could find all the necessary parts and a restoration shop with the experience to "do the job right". As for labor cost- most restoration shops now charge $65-$100 per hour and a typical ground-up 190SL restoration requires 800-1000 man-hours. Remember- do the math first!
I remember just a few years ago when Gullwings were selling for less than $100,000 and 300SL Roadsters were even less. Don't miss out again!