1955 Mercedes-Benz SL 190 - 190 SL

To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' The London Auction event, 31 October 2026.

Highly authentic preservation-class example believed to feature its original factory-appointed paint and interior

Fitted with matching-numbers engine and coachwork

Benefits from fastidious care by just four keepers during its lifetime

Documented with factory build record copy and service invoices dating to September 1969

Impressively original, very early-production example of the beloved four-cylinder SL, complete with dual Solex carburettors, Gullwing-style bucket seats, and factory tool roll

Please note if this vehicle is exported outside of the UK an export license will be required.

Featuring remarkably original condition highlighted by the presence of its matching-numbers engine and body, this charming early 190 SL is one of the finest examples to be presented at auction in recent times. According to a build record copy on file, chassis number 00435 was finished in black paint over a red leather interior, and the car was dispatched to the Packard/Mercedes-Benz Distributor in New York in early September 1955.

A signed statement from the widow of the second owner clarifies that this Mercedes-Benz was sold new in 1955 to Ted Kangie, a manager of the US Steel plant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mr Kangie was apparently told that his car was only the second example imported to the United States. While this may be apocryphal, production details such as the single sun visor and door-mounted mirrors prove that the SL is certainly one of the earlier examples built.

Mr Kangie was soon transferred to the US Steel plant in Gary, Indiana, and the 190 SL faithfully accompanied him to a new residence in nearby Ogden Dunes. When he later decided to move to Florida, Mr Kangie sold the car in 1969 to an admiring friend and neighbour, Robert Charles Bills, who was a member of the Chicago-area Mercedes-Benz Club.

As revealed by service invoices spanning from September 1969 to May 1993, Mr Bills took great care of the Mercedes-Benz, fastidiously replacing minor parts to ensure good operating condition. In 1989 Mr Bills relocated to Lake Tawakoni, Texas, and the 190 SL was soon put into storage at its new Texas home.

In October 2007, the owner sold the car to an ex-Mercedes-Benz mechanic named Don Tremelling. Mr Tremelling recommissioned the SL for road use with a gradual sympathetic freshening, sourcing parts from Mercedes-Benz Classic, and locating an original factory hard top in complementary red. His efforts yielded an award for the car at the 2013 Keels & Wheels Concours d’Elegance.

In October 2013 Mr Tremelling offered the Mercedes-Benz at RM Auctions’ Hershey sale, and it was acquired then by the present keeper, a UK-based collector. Since then, the car has been carefully stored, used sparingly, and maintained in good mechanical running order, with strict discipline to preserve its unmolested factory specification and charming patina (invoices available for workshop visits).

This honestly presented 190 SL is one of the most original examples to ever pass through RM Sotheby’s purview. Mechanical stampings corresponding to factory data demonstrate that the car desirably retains its matching-numbers chassis, engine, and coachwork.

Exuding a mellowed and warm patina that cannot be replicated, this beautiful SL should command the interest of any enthusiast of the Three-Pointed Star.

To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/auctions/lf26/.