You might think you’re looking at a rare factory custom, but what you’re actually seeing is a remarkable resurrection story. Who would have guessed that starting with a neglected classic, left to gather dust and rodent droppings for years, could result in such a stunning automobile? This is the tale of a Mercedes-Benz 190 SL that defied expectations, emerging as a unique and breathtaking barchetta cruiser.
Ted Gushue: How did you stumble upon this incredible find?
Michael Potiker: It all began with a simple walk in my neighborhood with my father. As we passed a seemingly abandoned house, I noticed a garage door slightly ajar. Peeking inside, I saw a car hidden under a 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, likely accumulated over many years. Something about it sparked my interest. It was clear someone recognized its value, given the custom car cover, but it also seemed forgotten, left to languish. I couldn’t shake the image from my mind. The next day, I returned and knocked on the door. A nurse answered, and that’s when 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 lift the front. As I raised the edge, the large Mercedes Tri-Star emblem was revealed, and I was immediately impressed. My first thought was, “Wow! This must be an old 300!” Feigning ignorance, I turned to the nurse and casually remarked, “Wow! This must be some old Mercedes or something. I don’t know much about these old cars.” Then, quickly, I replaced the cover and walked away. Driven by curiosity, I managed to find 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 sadly unable to communicate. Persistently, but respectfully, I continued to inquire and was eventually connected with the trustee of his estate and his attorney. This fortunate connection allowed me to begin negotiations to purchase the car, which I now realized was a 190SL. Apparently, my interest had alerted others within the estate, but through sheer luck and timing, I was able to secure the deal.
The Mercedes-Benz 190 SL had been sitting untouched for an estimated 8 to 10 years. While the hardtop was in place, the windows were left open beneath the cover, creating an inviting environment for rodents. Inside, it was clear they had made themselves at home. Droppings were everywhere. Adding to the unpleasant discoveries, the nurse mentioned that a dog had also resided in the car at some point.
TG: What kind of dog, if you could tell?
MP: Judging by the sheer volume of hair and the state of the interior (laughs), it was definitely a shedding breed! The interior was truly repulsive. To even begin cleaning, I donned a full Tyvek painting suit, complete with booties and a hood. My initial plan was to vacuum the interior, but I quickly realized that the level of contamination was beyond simple cleaning. I resorted to using a razor blade to literally cut out the entire interior. After removing the carpet, I discovered layers of tiles held down with duct tape and nails directly on the floor. These were clearly not factory additions, and my goal was to reach the bare floor to assess the extent of rust damage. When I pressed a screwdriver against one of these tiles and tapped it with a hammer, orange dust billowed out. It dawned on me with a jolt – these were asbestos tiles. This discovery, coupled with the pair of flip flops I found in the back, painted a picture of the previous owner, someone who perhaps enjoyed barefoot driving.
TG: Asbestos tiles? What would possess someone to use those in a car? Was there a time when asbestos tiles were considered for fireproofing in vehicles?
MP: Asbestos tiles are indeed fire and heat resistant, but their use in a car floor is completely inappropriate and unconventional. It seems the previous owner likely had leftover tiles from a home renovation project, perhaps back in the 70s. His rationale, as bizarre as it was, might have been to combat heat radiating from the floor while driving along the beach. His solution? Tack asbestos tiles directly onto the floor and cover them with carpet. This was just one example of a series of unorthodox repairs I uncovered. Among other oddities, I found a woman’s brass bangle clamped onto a hose with a hose clamp, and copious amounts of Bondo filler on the floor. There was even a residential window screen used in one area. Fortunately, despite these peculiar fixes, the body itself was remarkably original and untouched, showing no signs of previous accidents. This meant we could avoid extensive and costly bodywork.
Due to the floor’s compromised condition, the entire floor pan had to be replaced. I entrusted the car to Hjeltness Restorations, renowned specialists in ‘Gullwing’ Mercedes. Their metalwork experts meticulously cut out the rusted floor and fabricated and installed a completely new one. Incredibly, despite its years of neglect, the engine showed signs of life. Once we got the 190 SL home, we connected a new battery, rigged up a temporary fuel supply from a can, and cranked the engine. To everyone’s surprise, it actually started! It ran rough, but it started, a testament to the robustness of Mercedes engineering.
To get it running smoothly, I had Hjeltness Restorations rebuild the carburetors, but remarkably, the engine itself is original and numbers-matching. Further research revealed this particular 190 SL 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 block, characteristic of some Japanese export models. As the second owner, I’ve fallen completely in love with 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?
MP: Yes, the color is Mercedes DB190, a beautiful shade of dolphin grey. Originally, the interior was parchment, but the restoration shop presented me with this stunning red interior as an option, and I couldn’t resist. It was sourced from a concours-quality 190 SL that had the wrong interior color for its originality, and the owner wanted to restore it to its factory specification. So, I happily adopted his practically brand new red interior, and they installed it in my car.
TG: Beyond the interior, what other modifications have you incorporated?
MP: The wheels are quite unique. They are actually space-saver spare wheels sourced from a Volkswagen Rabbit, modified to fit the Mercedes hub correctly and painted in DB190 to match the body. For the lighting, I opted for New-Old-Stock French selective yellow headlights fitted with modern halogen bulbs for improved visibility. To handle the increased power demand, there’s a heavy-duty lighting relay installed under the dashboard. I also added Cibié 9″ Super Oscar driving lights, which are incredibly bright, rated for daylight visibility even at a mile away. The leather straps on the trunk were initially added for aesthetic appeal, but I later rebuilt the trunk mechanism anyway, so now they are purely decorative.
The shortened windscreen is a key modification, an exact replica of the RennSport screen that Mercedes offered to 190 SL customers for a sportier look. To accommodate the tonneau cover with this windscreen, the dashboard was extended upwards by two or three inches, creating a fairing for a seamless fit and incorporating push-to-fit connectors.
The suspension has been significantly upgraded with a very aggressive set of coilovers, tuned for rally use. This setup provides a surprisingly comfortable ride, even over speed bumps and rough roads, while maintaining excellent grip and handling. A more robust sway bar, custom-made and offered by the 190 SL club, further enhances handling. For improved reliability and performance, a gear reduction starter and an alternator, also sourced from the 190 SL club, have been installed. The engine now breathes through Weber carburetors. While the original 190 SLs came with Solex carbs, the Webers are a known upgrade, adding a noticeable 35 to 40 horsepower. The Webers were a modification by the previous owner, and I had them completely rebuilt to ensure optimal performance. Finally, the completely rusted-out original exhaust system was replaced with a custom straight-through stainless steel system.
Working with Eric Hjeltness has been invaluable. He’s offered fantastic suggestions throughout the project, and we are currently developing a custom Weber linkage and planning to install new racing-style bucket seats to provide better lateral support. Interestingly, I haven’t yet rebuilt the transmission or the engine itself, and I feel incredibly fortunate that it runs as smoothly and reliably as it does.
TG: Why would you even consider rebuilding them if it’s running so well?
MP: (Laughs) Exactly! The fact that it runs so well after sitting for so long feels like borrowed time. I’m sure it will eventually need a major overhaul, but for now, I’m enjoying it as is. It’s just a phenomenal little car. It’s an absolute blast to drive. Everywhere I go in it, I feel like I’m making new friends.
