This isn’t your typical factory-fresh classic; what you’re seeing is a remarkable rebirth. Who would have guessed that leaving a Mercedes-benz 190sl to gather dust and, shall we say, accumulate the leavings of rodents for eight years could result in such an extraordinary automobile? This particular Mercedes-Benz 190SL has undergone a breathtaking transformation, emerging as a unique, windscreen-less barchetta cruiser that’s sure to turn heads wherever it goes. Let’s delve into the fascinating story of how this automotive diamond in the rough was discovered and meticulously brought back to life.
Ted Gushue from Petrolicious sat down with Michael Potiker, the visionary behind this stunning Mercedes-Benz 190SL restoration, to uncover the captivating tale of its resurrection.
Ted Gushue: Michael, this Mercedes-Benz 190SL is incredible. Tell me, how did you stumble upon this gem?
Michael Potiker: It all started during a casual walk with my father in our neighborhood. I noticed a garage door slightly ajar at a rather run-down house just down the street. Peeking inside, I saw a car cloaked under a cover, with just a hint of chrome peeking out. It was dusty, dirty, and looked like it had been sitting there for ages. Being close to the ocean, it was coated in a layer of clay and dirt from the nearby cliffs, likely accumulated over many years. It piqued my interest. The custom car cover suggested someone knew it was something special, but it seemed forgotten. After thinking about it overnight, I returned the next day and knocked on the door. A nurse answered, and that’s when the story really began to unfold.
I asked if I could lift the cover, just to get a glimpse, and she hesitantly agreed, but only to lift the front part. As I lifted the cover, the iconic Mercedes Tri-Star emblem appeared, and I was immediately impressed. Initially, I even thought it might be a 300SL! Trying to play it cool, I turned to the nurse and said something like, “Wow, this looks like an old Mercedes or something. I don’t know much about these old cars.” Then, quickly, I put the cover back down and left. Eager to learn more, I tracked down the house phone number through a neighbor and called the next day.
I inquired about speaking with the car’s owner, and I was told that he was in palliative care and unfortunately unable to communicate. Persistently but respectfully, I continued to inquire and was eventually connected with the trustee of his estate and his attorney. They granted me the opportunity to negotiate the purchase of what I then realized was a Mercedes-Benz 190SL. Apparently, my interest sparked some attention from others involved in the estate, but through sheer luck and timing, I managed to secure it.
The Mercedes-Benz 190SL had been sitting untouched for an estimated 8 to 10 years. Although the hardtop was on, the windows were left open under the cover. As you can imagine, it had become a haven for rodents. Droppings were everywhere. According to the nurse, a dog had even taken up residence in the car at some point!
TG: (Laughing) What kind of dog, do you think?
MP: Something that shed quite a bit, judging by the state of the interior! (laughs). It was truly disgusting. My first step was to suit up in a full Tyvek painting suit, complete with booties and a hood, and start vacuuming. However, I quickly realized that the interior was beyond saving. I ended up using a razor blade to cut out the entire interior. Beneath the carpet, I discovered tiles held down with duct tape and nails. These were definitely not original! I was trying to get to the floor to assess the rust damage. When I tapped a screwdriver against the tile with a hammer, orange dust billowed out. To my surprise, it was asbestos tiling. In retrospect, it sort of made sense, as I found a pair of flip-flops in the back – clearly, the previous owner enjoyed driving barefoot.
TG: Asbestos tiles? Why would anyone use those in a car? Was there a time when asbestos was considered for fireproofing in vehicles?
MP: Asbestos tiles are indeed fire and heat resistant, but they are completely unsuitable for car floors. My theory is that the previous owner had some leftover tiles from a home renovation project in the 70s. Perhaps he was bothered by the heat radiating from the floor while driving around the beach. His solution was to simply nail asbestos tiles to the floor and cover them with carpet. There were numerous other questionable repairs like that. I found a woman’s brass bangle used as a shim for a hose, held together with a hose clamp. There was also a generous amount of Bondo on the floor and even a piece of residential window screen used for some unknown purpose. Fortunately, the body itself was all original and had never been in an accident, so we were spared any major bodywork.
The entire floor of the Mercedes-Benz 190SL had to be cut out and replaced. I entrusted the car to Hjeltness Restorations, renowned specialists in ‘Gullwing’ Mercedes. Their metalwork experts skillfully removed the rusted floor and fabricated a completely new one. Amazingly, after all those years of neglect, the engine actually started! Once we got it home, we connected a new battery and a makeshift fuel supply, cranked it, and it sputtered to life. It didn’t run smoothly, but it ran.
I had Hjeltness rebuild the carburetors, but remarkably, the engine is original and numbers-matching. It was a special export model to Japan, as the original owner was in the Marines. It even has a unique plaque on the engine that some Japanese export cars feature. I am only the second owner, and I absolutely adore this car. It’s simply the most enjoyable vehicle I’ve ever owned.
TG: Do you happen to know the name of the paint color? It’s stunning.
MP: Yes, it’s Mercedes DB190, a beautiful dolphin grey. The original interior was parchment, but the restoration shop offered me this vibrant red interior. It was from a concours-quality Mercedes-Benz 190SL that had the wrong interior color for its original specification. The owner wanted a truly original car, so I happily took his red interior, and they installed it in mine. It was a perfect upgrade.
TG: Beyond the interior, what other modifications have you made to this Mercedes-Benz 190SL?
MP: The wheels are quite unique. They are actually space-saver spares from a Volkswagen Rabbit, which were drilled to fit the Mercedes-Benz 190SL hub. They are painted in DB190 to match the body. For lighting, I installed New-Old-Stock French selective yellow headlights with modern halogen bulbs. To handle the extra power, there’s a heavy-duty lighting relay under the dash. And then there are the Cibié 9″ Super Oscar driving lights, incredibly bright, rated for daylight visibility from a mile away. I also added leather straps to the trunk, but then I ended up rebuilding the trunk mechanism anyway, so now they’re purely for aesthetics.
The small windscreen is a custom addition, an exact replica of the RennSport screen that Mercedes offered for the 190SL. The dash is extended upwards by a couple of inches to accommodate the tonneau cover, creating a seamless fairing with space for the push-to-fit connectors.
For the suspension, it’s running on a very aggressive set of coilovers, tuned for rally use. It handles speed bumps and rough roads with surprising smoothness while maintaining excellent grip. There’s also a more aggressive sway bar from the 190SL club. It’s equipped with a new gear reduction starter and an alternator, also sourced from the 190SL club. Under the hood, it now breathes through Weber carburetors. Originally, these cars came with Solex carbs, but the Webers add a noticeable 35 to 40 horsepower boost. The previous owner had installed the Webers, and I had them completely rebuilt. The exhaust system was completely rusted out, so I replaced it with a straight-through stainless steel system.
Eric Hjeltness has been a fantastic resource, offering great suggestions throughout the build. We are currently working on a custom Weber linkage and planning to install new racing bucket seats for better lateral support. Surprisingly, I haven’t rebuilt the transmission or the engine itself, and I feel incredibly fortunate that it’s been running so reliably.
TG: Why would you rebuild them if they are running so well?
MP: (Laughs) Exactly! Why mess with something that works, especially after sitting for so long? It’s bound to fail spectacularly at some point, but until then, I’m enjoying every mile. It’s just a fantastic little car, so much fun to drive. You instantly become everyone’s friend when you’re driving it around.
