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Mercedes-Benz · 1955–1963
Mercedes-Benz 190 SL 3D configurator
Build a Mercedes-Benz 190 SL for any model year from 1955 to 1963 in an interactive 3D view. The steps are model year, exterior, roof, interior, wheels and equipment. Choices that did not exist in the chosen year or market are blocked or flagged, and the summary lists how well each one is documented.
At a glance
- Model
- Mercedes-Benz 190 SL
- Make
- Mercedes-Benz
- Generation
- W 121 B II
- Body
- Two-seat roadster, optional removable hardtop
- Production
- May 1955 – February 1963
- Model years
- 1955–1963
- Markets
- Europe and North America
What you can configure
- Model year
- Exterior
- Roof
- Interior
- Wheels
- Equipment
Paint colours (13)
Names and codes as recorded for the 190 SL; the availability of each colour depends on model year.
- Black (DB 040)
- White (DB 050)
- White Grey (DB 158)
- Blue Grey (DB 166)
- Silver Metallic (DB 180)
- Graphite Grey (DB 190)
- Pearl Green (DB 213)
- Light Blue (DB 334)
- Light Blue Metallic (DB 353)
- Dolphin Blue (DB 380)
- Fire Engine Red (DB 534)
- Strawberry Red Metallic (DB 543)
- Ivory (DB 608)
Changes during production
- Series production begins (03–05/1955) Production version shown at Geneva in March 1955; customer deliveries from May 1955.
- Sport version (early years only) (1955 (end date undocumented)) Early sports-racing version with small Perspex windscreen, aluminium doors and one-piece bucket seats; later dropped.
- Larger tail lamps (1956) Tail lamps enlarged.
- Broader chrome trim on door rims (1956) Wider chrome trim along the door tops.
- Revised number-plate lighting (1957) Rear number-plate illumination revised.
- Compression ratio raised (09/1959) Compression ratio raised from 8.5:1 to 8.8:1 (not visible).
- Hardtop with larger rear window (10/1959) New hardtop with a larger rear window for better visibility.
- Production ends (02/1963) Succeeded by the 230 SL (W 113).
Sources and accuracy
Each option in this configurator is marked as verified, partially verified or unverified, depending on the evidence found. The data for this car draws on 10 sources:
- Type 190 SL, W 121, 1955 – 1963 · Mercedes-Benz Classic public archive
- Mercedes-Benz 190 SL · Wikipedia
- Ponton paint colour chart (Martin Senour refinish chip sheet) · mbzponton.org (Mercedes-Benz Ponton enthusiast site)
- Job Aid for the 190 SLs — Color Selections in Detailing to Concours · Bruce L. Adams, via mbzponton.org (2009)
- 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (lot description) · Broad Arrow Auctions
- 1957 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (lot description) · RM Sotheby's
- 1958 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (lot description) · RM Sotheby's
- The Complete Package · The Star magazine, Mercedes-Benz Club of America
- 1958 Mercedes-Benz SL 190 (listing) · Classic Driver
- Dealer and auction listings for individual 190 SLs · classiccars.com, classic-trader.com, lbilimited.com, admcars.com
3D model credits
- 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190SL by tonielpro520, CC BY 4.0. split into parts, rescaled to the published wheelbase, re-materialled; roofs and accessories added procedurally
