The 190SL market has really caught fire in the past 18 months, here is one result from the auctions in Scottsdale that demonstrates the climbing prices, even among far less than perfect cars.
1960 Mercedes Benz 190SL – Lot# S714 – Russo & Steele – Scottsdale, AZ, January 2014: Red w/ Beige interior, claimed 37,000 original miles, fitted w/ Weber carbs.
Sold for $96,380
A Saturday night special in resale red. Consigned by a local independent Mercedes shop, photos showing body in paint booth. From a few feet away , looked great, but as I got closer the details began to let me down. Front bumper newly re-chromed, rear was entirely pitted, other pitted chrome throughout, tail lamp seals dry and cracked, 190SL badge on trunk pitted. I walked around this car with the guys from LBI Limited (SLML advertisers) and we all walked away scratching our heads, “Why go to such lengths to repaint the car and re-chrome some pieces and not others, what else was left undone?” Didn’t seem to matter too much to the bidders, as it still found strong money for condition, another $5k to fix the flaws might have meant $20k at the hammer.