1963 Mercedes 190 SL, Arizona Barn Find, 2 Owner, Runs and Drives.

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This 190 SL was purchased new at Ed Comitz Mercedes Benz in Tucson. Arizona.  The original owner drove the car locally for eight years. and sold it to his friend in 1971 for $1000.  The second owner used the car occasionally in the early seventies. and finally parked it in a horse stall in 1979.  It remained in the same spot for the next 34 years. covered in tarps and kept out of the weather.  The second owner passed away in 2002. and left the car to his son. who happens to be my neighbor.  A few months ago. he told me of this amazing car that had been hidden away for over three decades. and asked if I might be able to sell it for him.
When I visited the old ranch where the car had been stored. it was exactly as he had described.  The car was tucked away in a collapsing horse barn. wrapped tightly with many layers of car covers.  It took several hours to clear away all the debris and accumulated dirt. but the car was amazingly intact and well-preserved.  We had it flat-bedded to my home shop. where I proceeded to clean 34 years of dirt and dust from every surface on the car.  I then delivered the car to a local Mercedes specialist. who serviced all of the major systems and made the 190 roadworthy once again.  This beautiful. rare car is now ready for the next stage of it's life.  It will still require some restoration work. but it is an incredibly solid and original Arizona car.
The following work has been done in the last month. with receipts totaling over $5300.
Complete servicing of the fuel system. including tank removal and cleaning. replace all rubber lines. flush hard lines. and install a new. German fuel pump.
Complete overhaul of the brake hydraulics. including a new master cylinder. rebuild all four wheel cylinders. and replace all rubber lines.
Re-pack front wheel bearings and replace seals.
Replace all four engine and transmission mounts.
New battery and tires.
Complete cooling system refurbishment. including a new water pump. thermostat housing. all hoses. and belt.  The radiator was sent out for service. and the block flushed.
Lube chassis. change engine oil. transmission gear oil. and differential fluid.

The car still has it's original pair of Solex carburetors. and they actually work quite well.  Since it was stored so long ago. ethanol-mix fuel was never allowed to sit in the tank of carbs. which probably saved them from deterioration.  The engine idles well. with good throttle response and no visible leaks.  Amazing!  The carburetors and ignition system have not been touched. and the car may still have it's original spark plug wires.  The engine does let a little puff of blue smoke out of the tailpipe under acceleration.  The car has only been driven about ten miles since in was woken up. so we have not performed extensive road trials yet.  Since it was kept in a dry. desert climate. the engine could easily be turned by hand when it was removed from storage.
The underside is completely dry and free of rust.  This car has never left southern Arizona. and has rarely seen moisture.  The floor pans. suspension. and wheel wells are spectacularly rust-free.
Most of the electrical components are still functional. including the headlights. tail lights. wipers. and horn.  The turn signals. brake lights. dash lights. heater. and radio are not currently functional.
All of the gauges are in excellent cosmetic condition.  The temperature and oil pressure gauges both work well.  The tachometer does not work. and the speedometer works erratically. and is very noisy.  The odometer does not work. so the true mileage is unknown.  Based on the minimal pedal wear and general condition. the car appears to have less than 60. 00 miles on it.  The odometer stopped just shy of 50. 00 miles.  Gas gauge appears to be functional.
The Mercedes drives in a straight line. but the suspension and front end have not been renewed.
The brakes work very well. but the power booster has been bypassed.  
The clutch feels good. and the transmission shifts through all gears without drama.

The body of the 190 has been painted once in the original color. and the paint job appears to be from the late sixties.  The paint still has a nice shine. with an elegant patina.  It has been thoroughly cleaned and polished. but no touch up work has been done to the car since it was removed from storage.  It has evidence of minor bodywork in the front. right fender. and some previous repairs to the hood.  The doors. rockers. and trunk area look to be in excellent condition. with great panel fit.  All of the trim is intact. with the exception of the "190 SL" emblem on the trunk lid.  The right. rear quarter panel has some minor damage. and there are numerous scratches and dings on the body.  There are also a few dings around the rear license plate.  There is no evidence of rust or rust repairs anywhere on the car.
The interior is rough but complete.  The soft top frame is in excellent condition. with good latches and hinges.  It will need a new top cover and rear window.  This car did not come with the optional hard top.
All four tires are new. with less than 10 miles on them.  The spare is an old Michelin Radial which has never been used.
The trunk area is original and quite nice.  I found two unused cans of 1970's motor oil. along with several old soda cans. a picnic blanket. and the original Mercedes tool kit in there.  All will be included in the sale.
The original clock is still in the glove box door.  They go for about $800!
All of the original documents from Mercedes are still in the glove box.  Owner's manual. radio manual. warranty card. and even a pink card that appears to be a build sheet (It's in German).
We have all of the original keys. as well as a clear Arizona title.
Please understand that this car does run. drive. and stop.  I have had a lot of fun driving it around my neighborhood. but I would not consider it ready for touring.  It would make a great driver with some additional servicing. or could be the basis of a concours restoration.

If you are reading this ad. you are probably very familiar with the Mercedes 190 SL.  They have finally been noticed in the collector car world. and are commanding very strong prices in the current market.  1963 was the final year for this body style. and the last cars typically were the best of the breed.   The 190 SL was introduced as more attainable companion car to the fabled 300 SL. and was marketed to buyers that could not afford or handle the exotic gull wing.  Many of the 300 SL's styling cues were used on the 190 SL. and the graceful shape and distinctive grill continue to influence the design of modern Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
My name is Alex. and I am available via email or phone if you have any questions about the car.  The Mercedes is currently stored in my garage. and can be viewed by appointment.  My number is 520-465-2539.  I am a classic car collector. and have sold several vehicles on ebay.  Please check my 100% positive feedback. and bid with confidence.
We may consider offers. and can post a buy it now if we come to an agreement.
$500 deposit due within 24 hours of auction close.  Remainder to be paid via wire transfer.  Buyer is responsible for all shipping arrangements. but I will be happy to work with the shipping company of your choice.  I am located just five miles from Interstate 10 in Tucson. Arizona.

Also published at eBay.com

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