Mercedes-Benz 190SL
| Mercedes-Benz 190SL | |
|---|---|
.JPG) | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz |
| Production |
1955-1963 25,881 built[1] |
| Assembly | Stuttgart Untertürkheim, Germany |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | grand tourer |
| Body style | roadster |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Platform | Mercedes-Benz W121 |
| Related |
Mercedes-Benz W198 (300SL) Mercedes-Benz W120/121 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1,897 cc M121 SOHC I4 |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual, fully synchronized |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,400 mm (94.5 in) |
| Length | 4,290 mm (168.9 in) |
| Width | 1,740 mm (68.5 in) |
| Height | 1,320 mm (52.0 in) |
| Curb weight | 2,552 lb (1,158 kg) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | none |
| Successor | Mercedes-Benz W113 (230SL) |
- See Mercedes-Benz SL-Class for a complete overview of all SL-Class models.
The Mercedes-Benz 190SL is a two-door grand touring roadster with an optional removable hardtop that was produced by Mercedes-Benz between May 1955 and February 1963. A prototype was first shown at the 1954 New York Auto Show.
The 190SL was sold alongside the faster, more expensive Mercedes-Benz 300SL, which it closely resembled both in its styling, engineering, detailing and fully independent suspension, both cars having double wishbone suspensions at the front and swing axles at the rear. However, the 190SL did not use the 300SL's purpose-built tubular spaceframe W198 platform, but was built on a shortened and monocoque R121 platform that modified from the W121 small saloon.[2]
The 190SL was powered by a new, slightly oversquare 1.9 L straight-four SOHC engine (Type M121 BII), that developed 105 PS (77 kW; 104 hp) (or 120 gross hp) that earned itself a reputation for not running that smoothly[3] mostly due to the difficulty in properly synchronising the twin-choke dual Solex carburetors, and that, in detuned form, was later also used in the W120 180 and W121 190 models. The four-cylinder engine block of the 190SL was based on the six-cylinder engine of the 300 SL.[4] The 85 mm bore was transferred unchanged from the larger engine to the smaller, although the stroke for the 190 SL was reduced from 88.0 mm to 83.6 mm.[4] The car was available either as a soft-top convertible (initially priced at DM 16,500/US$ 3,998[5]) or with removable hardtop (DM 17,650/$ 4,295). Optional was a third-passenger transverse seat that could even fit an adult. During its first years the 190SL was available as a sports-racing model with small perspex windscreen and spartan one-piece leather covered bucket seats and aluminum doors, although any competition aspirations were modest. In 1959, the hardtop's rear window was enlarged.
Both the 190SL and the 300SL were replaced by the Mercedes-Benz 230SL in 1963.
Technical data
| Mercedes-Benz | 190SL |
|---|---|
| Produced: | 1955–1963 |
| Engine: | 4-cylinder-inline engine (four-stroke), front-mounted |
| Bore x Stroke: | 85 mm x 83.6 mm |
| Displacement: | 1897 cc |
| Max. Power @ rpm: | 105 PS (77 kW; 104 hp) @ 5700 |
| Max. Torque @ rpm: | 142 N·m (105 lb·ft) @ 3200 |
| Compression Ratio: | 8.5: 1, from 09/59 8.8:1 |
| Fuel feed: | twin two barrel sidedraft carburetors - Solex 44PHH |
| Fuel tank capacity: | 65 L (17.2 US gal; 14.3 imp gal) |
| Valvetrain: | SOHC, duplex chain |
| Cooling: | Water |
| Gearbox: | 4-speed manual, lever between seats rear-wheel drive, standard axle ratio 3.90:1 |
| Electrical system: | 12-volt |
| Front suspension: | Double wishbones, coil springs, stabilizing bar |
| Rear suspension:: | Swing axle, coil springs |
| Brakes: | Drum brakes (Ø 230 mm), power assisted |
| Steering: | Recirculating ball steering |
| Body structure: | Sheet steel, uni-body construction |
| Dry weight: | 1,160 kg (2,560 lb) (Hardtop: + 20 kg (44 lb)) |
| Loaded weight: | 1,400 kg (3,100 lb), from 1961 1,440 kg (3,170 lb) |
| Track front/ rear: | 1,430 mm (56.3 in) 1,475 mm (58.1 in) |
| Wheelbase: | 2,400 mm (94.5 in) |
| Length: | 4,290 mm (168.9 in) |
| Width: | 1,740 mm (68.5 in) |
| Height: | 1,320 mm (52.0 in) |
| Tyre/Tire sizes: | 6.40-13 Sport |
| Top speed: | 171 km/h (106 mph) |
| Fuel Consumption (estimate): | 12.5 litres per 100 kilometres (22.6 mpg-imp; 18.8 mpg-US) |
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Oswald, Werner (2001). Deutsche Autos 1945-1990, Band 4. Stuttgart: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 3-613-02131-5.
- ↑ "RitzSite Mercedes-Benz 190 SL 1955-1963; page 2". Ritzsite.net. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
- ↑ Oswald, op. cit., p. 31
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Smith, Maurice A., ed. (28 October 1966). "Used cars on test:1960 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Coupé". Autocar. 125 (3689): pages 944–945.
- ↑ US prices: Mike Covello: Standard Catalog of Imported Cars 1946-2002. Krause Publication, Iola 2002, ISBN 0-87341-605-8, p. 528.
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| Class | Type | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
| 4-cylinder | Sedan | W136 / W191 | W120 / W121 | W110 | W115 | W123 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Roadster | R121 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6-cylinder | Sedan | W187 | W105 / W180 / W128 | W111 | W114 | W123 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coupé | W187 | W180 / W128 | W111 | C107 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Large car | Sedan | W111 (until 1968) | (began 1965) W108 / W109 | W116 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coupe | W188 | W112 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Limousine | W186 / W189 | W100 (600) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sports | Roadster | W198 | W113 | R107 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coupé | W196S | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Utility | Van | L319 | T2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||