You’re not looking at just any vintage car; this Mercedes-Benz 190SL is a testament to resurrection and timeless style. Who would have thought that uncovering a classic car after years of neglect could reveal such an icon of automotive allure?
Ted Gushue: How did you stumble upon this remarkable find?
Michael Potiker: It was a casual walk with my father through our neighborhood when my eye caught a garage door slightly ajar at a seemingly forgotten house down the street. Beneath a car cover, a hint of chrome peeked out. The car was shrouded in layers of dust and grime, a testament to its proximity to the ocean and years exposed to the elements. It was clear someone recognized its value, evidenced by the custom cover, yet it appeared to have been left untouched for ages. Intrigued, I returned the next day and knocked on the door. A nurse answered, and that’s where the story truly began.
I inquired if I could lift the cover, and she cautiously agreed, “Just the front.” As I raised the cover, the prominent Mercedes Tri-Star emblem was revealed, and I exclaimed, “Whoa!” Initially, I mistook it for a 300. Turning to the nurse, I remarked, “Wow! This must be some old Mercedes or something. I don’t know much about these old cars.” Then, quickly replacing the cover, I left. Immediately, I located the house phone number through a neighbor and called the next day.
I asked to speak with the car’s owner, only to learn he was in palliative care and unable to communicate. Persistently, yet respectfully, I inquired further and was eventually connected with the trustee of his estate and his attorney. This led to negotiations to purchase what I now recognized as a 190SL. Apparently, my interest stirred others connected to the estate who also had designs on the car, but through sheer luck, I managed to acquire it.
It had been stationary for perhaps 8 to 10 years. The hardtop was in place, but the windows were open beneath the cover. It had become a haven for rodents, evidenced by droppings everywhere. According to the nurse, a dog had also resided in the car at some point.
TG: What breed of dog are we talking about?
MP: Something that shed profusely, judging by the interior (laughs). It was utterly revolting. Donning a Tyvek painting suit with booties and a hood, I began vacuuming. Soon, I realized the extent of the mess and decided to use a razor blade to remove the entire interior. After cutting out the carpet, I discovered tiles affixed to the floor with duct tape and nails. These were clearly not original. My goal was to reach the floor to assess the rust damage. When I pressed a screwdriver against a tile and tapped it with a hammer, orange dust billowed out. It dawned on me – these were asbestos tiles, which made a strange kind of sense considering the flip-flops I found in the back. Evidently, the previous owner enjoyed driving barefoot.
TG: Why would anyone consider using asbestos tiles in a car? Was there a time when asbestos was considered for fireproofing in vehicles?
MP: They are indeed used for fire and heat proofing, but their application on a car floor is completely inappropriate. The previous owner must have had them from a home renovation project in the 70s and, bothered by hot feet while cruising on the beach, decided to tack asbestos tiles to the floor and cover them with carpet. There were numerous questionable repairs like this. I found a woman’s brass bangle clamped to a hose with a hose clamp, acting as a makeshift repair. Bondo was liberally applied to the floor, and even a residential window screen was used in some repair attempt. Fortunately, the body was entirely original and undamaged, eliminating the need for bodywork.
The entire floor required replacement. I entrusted the car to Hjeltness Restorations, renowned for their ‘Gullwing’ expertise. Hjeltness’ metal specialist meticulously cut out the old floor and fabricated a completely new one. Surprisingly, after its discovery, the car actually started. We brought it home, connected a new battery, fed fuel directly from a can, and with a crank, it roared to life. It didn’t run perfectly, but it ran.
I had Hjeltness rebuild the carburetors, but the engine remains original and numbers-matching. It was a special export model to Japan, as the original owner was stationed there with the Marines. It features a unique plaque on the engine, common to Japanese export models. I am the second owner, and I am absolutely enamored with this car. It is pure joy to drive.
TG: Do you know the official name of the paint color?
MP: Yes, it’s Mercedes DB190, a sophisticated dolphin grey. The original interior was parchment, but the restoration shop presented me with this striking red interior. It was from a Concours-quality 190 with the wrong interior color. The owner sought originality, so I gladly accepted his red interior, and they installed it in mine.
TG: What other modifications have you incorporated?
MP: The wheels are actually space-saver spares from a Volkswagen Rabbit, expertly drilled to fit the hub and painted in DB190. It features New-Old-Stock French selective yellow headlights with halogen bulbs, supported by a substantial lighting relay under the dash. The Cibié 9″ Super Oscar lights are incredibly bright, rated for daylight visibility from a mile away. I added leather straps to the trunk, though I later rebuilt the trunk mechanism, rendering them purely aesthetic.
The small windshield is a custom addition, a precise replica of the RennSport screen Mercedes offered for the 190. The dash is extended upwards by two or three inches to accommodate the tonneau cover, allowing it to nest neatly with space for push-to-fit connectors.
It rides on a very performance-oriented set of coilovers, tuned for rally use. It handles speed bumps and rough roads smoothly while maintaining excellent grip. A robust sway bar from the 190 club is also installed. It has a new gear reduction starter and alternator, also sourced from the 190 club. It’s equipped with Webers. Originally, these cars had Solex carburetors, but the Webers boost performance by approximately 35 to 40 horsepower. The Webers were installed by the previous owner, and I had them completely rebuilt. The exhaust system, completely rusted through, was replaced with a straight-through stainless steel setup.
Eric Hjletness has provided invaluable advice, and we are currently developing a Weber linkage and planning to install new racing bucket seats for enhanced bolstering. I haven’t rebuilt the transmission or engine, and I feel incredibly fortunate that it runs as smoothly as it does.
TG: Why would you?
MP: Exactly, it runs beautifully after sitting for so long, even if it might spectacularly fail at some point. It’s simply a fantastic little car. It’s incredibly fun to drive, and you instantly become everyone’s friend when you’re behind the wheel of this Mercedes.
