By James McCarter
GB View Publisher
Clem Weierstahl was raised near Essen, Germany. So when he recalls the automobiles of his youth, names like Porsche, Jaguar and, of course, Mercedes, come to mind.

“I remember seeing the 300SL and the 190SL when I was young,” recalls Weierstahl. “They were such beautiful automobiles. But they were not for me ... they were for the doctors and the lawyers.”

In the early 1960s, Weierstahl moved to America and in time built a successful construction business. By the 1980s the car he remembered so fondly from his youth was indeed the car for him, too.

He located the 1959 Mercedes 190SL at a dealer in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., 18 years ago. The car was in wonderful shape, although it is unclear whether it was well-maintained or recently restored. Either way, Weierstahl found the car of his dreams.

“I have owned lots of cars over the years,” said Weierstahl. “But I still love the lines of this car. I think I may keep it forever.”

The 190SL was officially introduced to the United States at the 1954 New York Auto Show as a prototype, along with the more prestigious 300SL (Gullwing). Mercedes immediately recognized the need for a lower-priced sports car as an alternative to the 300SL. And both cars were introduced to the public in 1955.

The 190SL shared very little with big brother 300SL. But the body lines and interior design were strongly reminiscent of the popular sports car.

The Mercedes-Benz 190SL was a touring-convertible as opposed to the 300SL roadster, which was a true sports car. The 190SL was intended to be an affordable alternative to the 300SL. The car found a lot of enthusiastic buyers in the sunny states of Florida and California.

The sales success of the 190SL was based on the good looks of the car but also because of the excellent comfort and reliability.

The Mercedes-Benz 190SL was equipped with a fuel-injected four-cylinder engine which displaced about 1897 cc. It generated about 103 horsepower at 5,700 rpm. The standard four-speed manual gearbox was fully synchronized and featured a floor shift.

The 1959 190SL was fitted with standard power drum brakes. During the entire period of production a hardtop was available.

The 190SLs were produced from 1955 to 1963, and 25,881 rolled off the line.
In 1963, the 190SL was succeeded by the new Mercedes-Benz 230SL roadster, which later became known by the nickname “Pagoda.”

Weierstahl’s love of cars has expanded over the years. In the mid-1980s, at the age of 55, he took up road racing. He and his son, Arndt, currently race a pair of Porsches on road courses across the county, including Waterford Hills Race Track. Together they have won enough trophies to fill a room in Weierstahl’s garage.

“Now I am a little older,” said the 72-year-old Weierstahl. “Now it’s hard to pass Arndt.”

In addition to racing, Weierstahl like to take out his 190SL for a drive with his wife, Helga.

“Only once in a while,” says Weierstahl. “And only when it’s really nice out.”

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