Petrolhead Classics are experts in many aspects of classic car ownership: sourcing, buying, selling, restoring and upgrading. We focus on European sports cars, in particular Mercedes and Porsche, and serve both private and trade customers all over the world. Our philosophy is to provide the highest level of service to our customers and to add significant value to their cars for a very competitive price. We strive to maintain originality and authenticity wherever possible, while satisfying the individual wishes and expectations of our clients. Our network within the classic car world is truly international, and includes private collectors, manufacturers, museums, exclusive dealers and leading auction houses.
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1960 MERCEDES 190 SL Chassis no. 121040 - 10 - 016764, engine no. 121.921 - 10 - 018879 Mercedes-Benz unveiled the prototype of the 190 SL (W 121) at the International Motor Sports Show in New York in February 1954, alongside the production version of the 300 SL “Gullwing”. In March 1955, the production version went on display at the Geneva Motor Show. Like its elder brother, the spectacular 300 SL “Gullwing”, the 190 SL rapidly became one of the most coveted dream cars of its day. Although less powerful than the 300 SL, it opened up the SL legend to a wider circle of customers. By 1963 sales had totalled 25,881 units. The car described herein originates from Denmark, with documentation dating back to the 1960s. The current owner acquired it some years ago and tasked us with a full nut and bolt restoration, including bodywork, mechanics, electrics and interior. Our aim has been to replicate the technologies used by the Sindelfingen factory back in 1960. We restored all original parts that could be reclaimed, or reproduced them to original specification. Parts sourced were either new old stock, from Mercedes Classic or leading specialists. More than 2500h was spent on a comprehensive restoration, bringing this European car back to its former glory. We returned it to its stunning and rare original exterior colour, DB 380 Dolphin blue. Inside it’s finished in 979 dark blue leather and a black soft top rounds off the picture. After completion of the restoration, we conducted a 1000km test drive with full service at its end. A video describing the comprehensive rebuild can be found at: https://youtu.be/3OXDCxQ-EQE
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RESTORATION PROCESS – INSPECTION, DISASSEMBLY, CATALOGUING PARTS Crucial part of the process, including full photographic documentation to facilitate the later stages of the restoration and assembly.
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RESTORATION PROCESS – BODYWORK BEFORE MEDIA BLASTING Already at this stage, we took the decision not to reuse the front panel and the front and rear wings. While we strive for originality and repair sections are available, the risk for future corrosion was simply too high. This obviously adds to the complexity of the restoration, yet is the only way to achieve consistent quality. We still believed that the rear panel was salvageable at this point, yet as we will learn later, it sadly wasn’t.
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RESTORATION PROCESS – BODYWORK AFTER MEDIA BLASTING AND PRIMER This is when the full extent of the work needed becomes visible. The front left side of the car displayed accident damage and years of improper corrosion repairs were visible on almost all parts of the body. Sadly the front inner wings could not be reclaimed. Likewise, not just the sills and floor panels needed replacement, but also longitudinal and transverse chassis members, suspension points etc.
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RESTORATION PROCESS – BODYWORK: SILLS, CHASSIS MEMBERS, FLOOR PANELS The comprehensive bodywork restoration will first be exemplified by the right side of the chassis including sills, longitudinal and transversal members, floor panels and suspension points. The other side of the car was repaired in the same way. We manufactured a car rotisserie (jig) for the body repair, based on original Mercedes drawings of the chassis and suspension points, to achieve consistent quality.
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RESTORATION PROCESS – BODYWORK: INNER WINGS AND OUTER BODY PANELS Our decision to renew both outer and inner wings and wheel wells as well as front and rear sections, made the work complex. We sourced outer panels from Mercedes Classic and independent specialists, with the right rear wing potentially being the last new old stock part in the world. Lead loading was used to achieve consistent panel gaps. Included is the repair of the corroded aluminium A- and B-pillars.
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RESTORATION PROCESS – BODYWORK: APPRAISAL BY INDEPENDENT EXPERT After completion of the bodywork restoration, respected Austrian appraiser Michael Gross, working with some of the best Ferrari and Lamborghini restorers, visited our workshop to assess the quality of our restoration and issue a report.
Translation of summary: The body-in-white was assessed, without mechanics, electrics or ancillaries. From the original body, the tunnel, the rear wall, the firewall, the doors, the bonnet and hood as well as the A- and B-pillars could be reclaimed. The rest of the bodywork was renewed, using original and reproduction parts from Mercedes Classic and SLS. On the frame, same minor repairs were conducted. The bodywork restoration was painstakingly performed, replicating the factory welding technologies. The body-in-white is in excellent condition. All chrome parts (grille, front and rear lamps, bumpers and body adornments) were fitted to the body during restoration, to ensure best possible end result. The panel gaps on bonnet, bootlid and doors are consistent and according to original Mercedes specifications. Engine, gearbox, suspension, interior and soft-top were not inspected.
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RESTORATION PROCESS – PAINT PREPARATION Even with a certified bodywork restoration, the paint preparation is a tedious process. We followed the guidelines developed by Standox in cooperation with Mercedes Classic Center, using only a minimum amount of filler. Although more complicated to implement, we painted the underbody DB 169 Stone Gray as per factory specification. Interior, engine compartment and boot, as well as the insides of bonnet and bootlid were painted DB 164 Dark Gray. A thin and flexible layer of stone chip protection was used for the underbody and wheel arches.
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RESTORATION PROCESS – PAINT Applying the rare and stunning DB 380 Dolphin Blue top coat finally made the body look like it did back in 1960. We decided not to mask the wheel arches but rather allow for overspray like in the factory paint shop. Looking at an original and unrestored 1960 300 SL confirmed this.
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RESTORATION PROCESS – ENGINE AND GEARBOX Strip down of engine, measurement of all components, honing cylinder bores, new pistons with rings, crank grind, new bearings, repair of oil sump, renewal of water pump, new timing chains and tensioners, careful repair of cylinder head with manufacture of new water jackets, new valves, liners and seats, complete new gasket set, repaint engine block, polishing of aluminium parts. Complete rebuild of the Solex carburetors, including machining and bushing of the throttle bodies. 40h run in of engine on test bed. Rebuild of gearbox. New clutch.
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RESTORATION PROCESS – DRIVETRAIN, SUSPENSION, BRAKES, STEERING Strip down of all components, careful media blasting, priming and painting of all metal parts, rebuild of differential and joints, renewal of all four springs and shock absorbers, replacement of bushings, ball joints, bearings and all rubber components, new brakes lines and hoses, master and wheel cylinders, overhauled drums, new brake shoes, rebuild of brake servo, rebuild of steering rack, new tie rods etc.
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RESTORATION PROCESS – ELECTRICS New wiring loom, complete rebuild of starter, dynamo and wiper motor, renewal of ignition coil and distributor, careful refurbishment or replacement of all sockets and contacts, original text recreated for index relais housing, heater/blower fan refurbished, all switches and controls disassembled, cleaned and refurbished as necessary, all instruments completely rebuilt, including the rare, original Kienzle clock.
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RESTORATION PROCESS – HEATING AND VENTILATION Disassembly of system, careful media blasting, priming and painting of all metal housings, careful refurbishment of cardboard air intake box, correct surface treatment of all metal components, rechroming of cockpit heater controls and adornments, renewal of actuating mechanism, refurbishment and pressure testing of radiators.
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RESTORATION PROCESS – INTERIOR Retrimming of the interior in 979 dark blue leather. We took care to use leather with the right grain, emulating the original Roser material used by the factory. Seats were completely rebuilt with new feather cores and seat paddings. Carpets were made from correct Haargarn-Bouclé in 405 blue gray with dark blue textile ribbon. We went for Mercedes rubber mats up front, just like the car left the factory.
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RESTORATION PROCESS – HOOD FRAME AND SOFT TOP The original aluminium hood frame was disassembled, repaired and polished. Achieving an excellent fit to the restored body, windscreen and side windows is a time-consuming process. An external workshop, specialised in the manufacture and fitting of classic car hoods, did the new, black soft top in highest ‘Sonnenland’ quality, matching factory specifications.
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RESTORATION PROCESS – WHEELS AND TIRES Since only the best is good enough for our car, we went for new Michelin ZX tires in the factory original dimension 6,40/7,00R13 with 20mm whitewall (in some pictures with protective coating). Essential for quality and period correct look. Wheels and hubcaps were carefully restored.
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RESTORATION PROCESS – ASSEMBLY A few selected photos from the assembly. Additional information: tank refurbished, new sender and fuel lines, new exhaust with original manifold thermal coated, radiator refurbished, battery in correct classic look, original glass apart from left door, period correct firewall pad, new old stock steering wheel centre, refurbished original light bezels with manufacturer’s name engraved into them, original key.
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+36 20 3368575 I johan.lundberg@petrolheadclassics.com