'Grace' is a beautiful Mercedes 190sl that came into my ownwership in November 2002. I had been searching for some time and decided that having done the trawl of auctions and ads here in the UK that I could get more for my budget by going elsewhere.
I joined the 190slgroup USA and learnt alot about the cars before renewing my search. A lead led me to Toronto of all places but the car turned out to be a basket case and drove really bad. I walked away disappointed
. Then fate took a hold. I had a call from a member of the 190sl group saying he had one for sale. He'd been following my story via the groups excellent website as you can too at http://forums.190slgroup.com/showthread.php?t=747&highlight=toronto
. Then fate took a hold. I had a call from a member of the 190sl group saying he had one for sale. He'd been following my story via the groups excellent website as you can too at http://forums.190slgroup.com/showthread.php?t=747&highlight=toronto
I had 48 hours left on the other side of the pond so I drove the 500 miles to meet Bob and his car. As soon as a saw it I knew it was the right. You can tell alot about a car from its owner and Bob Speer really loved the car. The other major selling point was that it had only had two previuos owners and the file of work done stretched back to 1975. There was also the original bill of sale from 1958!
The car had spent its entire life in Pittsburgh US but in November 2002 it arrived at Liverpool docks. That 240 mile drive home in the freezing cold with the hard top bolted down on the car for the first time was the best drive of my life. The car had been on a ship for 12 days, sat in the docks for 2 days and still started up in 3 mins. Bob had left careful instructions in the glove box. "Gently press accelerator 12 times, then push starter button. If she doesn't fire up push another five. Please be gentle". Well, it took the firther five squirts and then she roared into life and I cruised home throught he night down onto the M25 and around into Kent at a steady 75mph but a quick blast took me up to 100mph when no one was around. Since then I've only put 2,000 more miles over 5 years. My dream is too have the car in my home in France (another dream) sometime in the future. 
The 190sl really is a timeless classic and their prices now are finally appreciating as the 300sl is ten times as expensive. But there are still some good deals to be found if you look hard and are prepared to travel! Its a great reliable cruiser for summer or winter and people love to look at the lines of a design from a bygone era. You can still get hold of most parts and their is a wealth of expertise on the web when you're stuck.
The 190sl really is a timeless classic and their prices now are finally appreciating as the 300sl is ten times as expensive. But there are still some good deals to be found if you look hard and are prepared to travel! Its a great reliable cruiser for summer or winter and people love to look at the lines of a design from a bygone era. You can still get hold of most parts and their is a wealth of expertise on the web when you're stuck.
Suns out, gotta go - its a 190sl kinds day......
