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$31,600
1962 Mercedes Benz SL Class Convertible Red
Price:
$31,600
Financing:
Summary:
Used 1962 Mercedes-Benz SL Class Red
Location:
Manhattan, NY
Description:
Two years before AMG built its first V8 powered 300SL an American, an aerospace engineer with Boeing, built their inspiration when he restored his 190SL and installed a four cam all aluminum 32 valve V8 in his 190SL. Unlike the AMG built Gullwings and 300SLs, the Boeing Engineer installed a five speed gearbox rather than an automatic, making this car that much more fun to drive than the Mercedes-AMG Gullwing and Roadsters. This 190 also weighs hundreds of pounds less than the Gullwing and 300SL Roadster. (A photo below shows the car a quarter center ago with its owner Engineer.)For example the standard 190SL at 70 mph on the motorway is running at nearly 4000 rpms where as this is cruising along at just 2500 rpms at the same speed making for a much more enjoyable drive. Plus, when you step on the gas in this car at 70 mph it takes off whereas a 190SL struggles to accelerate as these speeds increase.Restored by an aerospace engineer at Boeing, this may well be the world's best sounding and most fun to drive 190 SL or 300 SL. This Mercedes is much faster and more refined than the legendary 300 SL Gullwing. This SL is a like a German Shelby Cobra.....but so much more refined and functions as a great daily driver. In fact, this Mercedes has a power to weight ratio comparable to the original Cobra yet the Cobra did not have roll-up windows, a luxurious interior, refined suspension, large chrome bumpers, glove box, etc.This is the best engineered, best performing Mercedes 190 SL in existence, one that performs significantly better than the iconic 300SL Gullwing and yet is more refined as well.This 190 SL features a 5-speed manual gearbox making it a joy to shift and a comfortable car to drive at freeway speeds.The rear differential was upgraded to a Mercedes limited slip differential.The steering was also upgraded from the old worm and roller to more responsive rack and pinion steering. The steering is power assisted which makes this car easy to drive at lows speeds and during parking maneuvers.The car drives beautifully, solid and without any play in the suspension. This car does not drive like a 1950s era car but feels modern in terms of its solidity. The suspension appears to have been recently restored. As you can see from the pictures, the suspension and undercarriage are in exceptional condition.The 32 valve, four-liter V8 idles so smoothly that looking at it you can't even tell its running.This Mercedes has a dual personality either as a comfortable cruiser or as an AMG-style hotrod.A 300 horsepower vintage Mercedes SL, with a modern, reliable, clean running, fuel efficient, fuel-injected, four-cam, all-aluminum, easily serviced, 32 valve V8. A motor so light and well-engineered that its weight is the equivalent of the iron block four cylinder it replaced. This V8 is known to run reliably for up to 300,000 miles!This Mercedes is something truly rare, significant and special. Faster and more fun to drive than a Gullwing or 300SL Roadster, it was owned and driven regularly for decades by the Boeing aerospace engineer. He restored and built this car back in 1994, whereupon he restored the Mercedes and engineered it so as to be the fastest and most refined 190 SL anywhere. This Mercedes was his pride and joy and he drove it to shows consistently for many years. In fact, he lined the trunk with miniature plaques he'd received from the various shows with plaques going to back to 1994 still displayed. Several files of records come with the car including photographs going back a number of years. Also included in the sale is the traditional white steering wheel and a modern yet period correct looking radio (to be installed this week and replacing the radio you see in the current photos).This 1962 Mercedes 190SL weighs just 2,575 pounds (less with a lightweight battery; 2,662 with its hardtop on). That's only 20 pounds more than the published weight four cylinder 190 SL and this car has larger wheels and tires and power steering.This Mercedes' lightweight, fuel injected, ~300 HP four-cam, all-aluminum V8 weighs just 364 pounds. The engine/transmission flywheel assembly of the V8 is comparable in weight to the old iron block four-cylinder engine it replaced.The standard 190 SL, although a beautiful car to look at is quite frankly frustratingly slow, taking nearly 14 seconds to go from 0-60 and 20.5 second 1/4 mile time at just 74.6 mph. By comparison, an entry level Hyundai takes just 8 seconds to go from 0-60 and 16 seconds in the quarter mile while a Mazda Miata will go from 0-60 in just 6 seconds. This Mercedes SL will zero to 60 in an estimated 4.6 seconds.The four cylinder 190SL engine makes less than half the power of the Gullwing, barely more than 100 hp, with published figures of actual horsepower ranging from just 89 bhp to 104 bhp. Actual dyno results show just 73.3 to 82.6 rear wheel horsepower. Giving a further example of the lethargic nature of the 4 cylinder, it reportedly makes just 48hp at 3000 rpm.This car makes nearly three times that amount with an estimated 300 bhp and its zero to 60 is closer to Cobra territory. This V8 also revs freer and higher than the four cylinder and is reportedly safe to run up to 7000 rpms although maximum HP is reached around 6500 rpms.
Body Type:
Convertible
Transmission:
Manual Transmission
Features:
Power Steering
Posted:
July 16 2023 on Carseva
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More About this Listing: 1962 Mercedes Benz SL Class Convertible Red
1962 Mercedes Benz SL Class Convertible Red is a Red 1962 Mercedes-Benz SL Class Convertible in Manhattan NY. Find other listings by searching for 1962 Mercedes-Benz SL Class in New York on Oodle Classifieds.
1962 Mercedes Benz SL Class Convertible Red is a Red 1962 Mercedes-Benz SL Class Convertible in Manhattan NY. Find other listings by searching for 1962 Mercedes-Benz SL Class in New York on Oodle Classifieds.