You might think you’re looking at some rare factory edition, but what you see is a remarkable rebirth. Who would have guessed that leaving a classic car exposed to the elements for nearly a decade, becoming home to rodents, could be the start of an extraordinary transformation? This isn’t just any restoration; it’s the compelling tale of a neglected Mercedes-Benz 190 SL that has been reborn as a stunning barchetta cruiser.
Ted Gushue: How did you stumble upon this incredible find?
Michael Potiker: It was a chance encounter, really. I was taking a walk with my father in our neighborhood when I noticed an open garage door at a house that looked rather run-down just down the street. Peeking inside, I saw a car hidden under a custom cover, with just a hint of chrome peeking out. The car was coated in layers of dust and grime, a testament to its long slumber. Being close to the ocean, it was also covered in clay and dirt from the nearby cliffs, accumulated over what must have been years. Something about it sparked my interest. It was clear that someone had recognized its value at some point, given the custom cover, but it appeared to have been forgotten for a very long time. I couldn’t shake the image from my mind, so I returned the next day and knocked on the door. A nurse answered, and that’s where the story truly began to unfold.
I politely asked if I could lift the cover to get a better look, and she hesitantly agreed, but only to uncover the front. As I lifted the edge, the iconic Mercedes Tri-Star emblem was revealed, and I thought to myself, “Wow!” My initial thought was that it might be a 300 SL. Playing it cool, I turned to the nurse and casually remarked, “This must be some old Mercedes or something. I don’t know much about these vintage cars.” Then, quickly, I replaced the cover and made my exit. Keen to learn more, I tracked down the house phone number through a neighbor and called the next day.
I inquired about speaking with the owner of the car, only to learn from his wife that he was in palliative care and unfortunately unable to communicate. Undeterred, I persisted gently and was eventually connected with the trustee of his estate and his attorney. This fortunate connection allowed me to begin negotiations to purchase what I by then realized was, in fact, a 190 Sl Mercedes. Apparently, my interest had alerted others within the estate who also had their eyes on the car, but through sheer luck and timing, I managed to secure the deal.
The 190 SL had been sitting untouched for an estimated 8 to 10 years. Although the hardtop was in place, the windows were left open underneath the cover, creating an unwelcome environment for local wildlife. Rodents had made it their home, leaving droppings throughout the interior. According to the nurse, a dog had even taken residence in the car at some point.
TG: What kind of dog could have made such a mess?
MP: (Laughs) Judging by the sheer volume of hair and the state of the interior, it must have been a heavy shedder! It was truly disgusting. To even begin cleaning, I had to suit up in a full Tyvek painting suit, complete with booties and a hood. I started with vacuuming, but quickly realized that the interior was beyond saving. My solution was drastic but necessary – I took a razor blade and essentially cut out the entire interior. Beneath the carpet, I discovered tiles adhered to the floor with duct tape and nails. These were definitely not factory-installed. My aim was to reach the bare floor to assess the rust damage. When I tapped a screwdriver against one of these tiles with a hammer, orange dust billowed out, and to my shock, I realized they were asbestos tiles. In hindsight, it made a strange kind of sense, especially when I found a pair of flip-flops in the back. It seemed the previous owner enjoyed driving barefoot.
TG: Asbestos tiles? What would possess someone to use those in a car? Was there ever a time when asbestos was considered for automotive fireproofing?
MP: Asbestos tiles are indeed fire and heat resistant, but they are completely inappropriate for use in a car’s interior, let alone as flooring. It seems the previous owner likely had some leftover from a home renovation project in the 70s and decided to use them to combat heat from the beach drives. His logic, as flawed as it was, probably went something like, “My feet get hot driving to the beach. I’ll just nail some asbestos tiles to the floor of the car and cover them with carpet.” There were numerous questionable repairs like this throughout the car. I found a woman’s brass bangle clamped onto a hose with a hose clamp to fix a leak. There was an excessive amount of body filler, Bondo, used on the floor, and even a piece of residential window screen employed in some repair attempt. The silver lining was that the body itself was remarkably original and had never been in an accident, which meant no major bodywork was needed.
The entire floor of the Mercedes-Benz 190 SL was beyond repair and had to be completely cut out and replaced. I entrusted the car to Hjeltness Restorations, renowned specialists in Gullwing Mercedes. Their expert metalworkers meticulously removed the rusted floor and fabricated and installed a brand new one. Incredibly, despite its condition, after getting it home, the engine actually started. We connected a new battery, fed fuel directly from a can, cranked the engine, and it roared to life, albeit roughly.
I had Hjeltness rebuild the carburetors, but remarkably, the engine itself is original, and importantly, numbers-matching. This particular 190 SL was originally a special export to Japan, as the first owner was stationed there with the Marines. It even has a unique plaque on the engine that is characteristic of some Mercedes cars destined for the Japanese market. I am only the second owner of this incredible machine, and I am absolutely in love with it. Driving it is pure joy.
TG: Do you happen to know the name of that beautiful paint color?
MP: Yes, it’s Mercedes DB190, a sophisticated Dolphin Grey. Originally, the interior was parchment, but the restoration shop presented me with this striking red interior, and I simply couldn’t refuse. It was sourced from a concours-quality 190 SL that had the “wrong” interior color according to its owner’s restoration goals. He wanted absolute originality, so I happily inherited his practically new red interior, and they installed it in my car. It was a perfect upgrade.
TG: Beyond the interior, what other modifications have you incorporated into this 190 SL Mercedes?
MP: The wheels are quite unique – they are actually space-saver spares from a Volkswagen Rabbit, meticulously drilled to correctly fit the Mercedes hub. They are painted in DB190 to match the car. For lighting, I installed New-Old-Stock French selective yellow headlights fitted with modern halogen bulbs for improved visibility. To manage the power demands of these lights, there’s a substantial lighting relay installed under the dash. And then there are the incredibly powerful Cibié 9″ Super Oscar driving lights, renowned for their daylight-level brightness even at a mile away. These really light up the road. I also added leather straps to the trunk for a classic touch, although I ended up rebuilding the trunk mechanism anyway, so now they are purely for aesthetics.
The small windscreen is a key modification, an exact replica of the RennSport screen that Mercedes-Benz offered to customers who wished to use their 190 SL in competition or for a sportier feel. The dash has been subtly extended upwards by two or three inches to allow the tonneau cover to nest seamlessly and accommodate the push-to-fit connectors.
The suspension has been upgraded with a very aggressive set of coilovers, specifically valved for rally use. This setup allows the car to handle rough roads and speed bumps comfortably while maintaining exceptional grip and handling. A more substantial sway bar, sourced from the 190 SL club and custom-made for them, has also been installed, further enhancing the car’s cornering capabilities. It also benefits from a new gear reduction starter and an alternator, also from the 190 SL club. Under the hood, the original Solex carburetors have been replaced with performance Weber carburetors. This upgrade, performed by the previous owner, is estimated to add another 35 to 40 horsepower. I had the Webers fully rebuilt to ensure peak performance. The exhaust system was completely rusted through, so it has been replaced with a straight-through stainless steel system.
Eric Hjeltness has been a fantastic source of advice and ideas throughout the project. Currently, we are working on a custom Weber linkage for improved throttle response and plan to install new racing bucket seats to provide better lateral support during spirited drives. Surprisingly, I haven’t needed to rebuild either the transmission or the engine itself. I feel incredibly fortunate that it runs as smoothly and reliably as it does, especially considering its years of neglect.
TG: Why mess with success?
MP: Exactly! It runs beautifully after sitting for so long. Of course, it might decide to dramatically fail at some point, but for now, it’s just a fantastic little car. It is unbelievably fun to drive. Everywhere you go in this 190 SL Mercedes, you instantly become everyone’s best friend.
