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AutoArt 1:18 1955 Mercedes-Benz 190SL

Reviewed by: Rusty Hurley

You’ve no doubt heard the term: wolf in sheep’s clothing.

The 1955 Mercedes 190SL represents the automotive antonym to that old adage. It shares much of it’s styling with it’s more famous, and more powerful big brother, the 300SL.

But beneath the seemingly identical twins, lie some vast differences: the aluminum W198 space frame of the 300SL is substituted with a R121 monocoque in the 190SL. And of course, as the numbers tell it, the 1.9 liter engine hasn’t got the power of it’s competition level sibling.

But what we’re looking at, in reality is the same difference between something like a Pontiac Firebird and a Trans Am. To the naked eye, it might not look much different at all. At the track, a different story.

As a collector, though, I want the 190SL in my collection and this one in particular and here’s why: it’s still a gorgeous example of that mid 1950’s era Mercedes. That streamlined look plasters a big, fat stupid smile on my face every time I see it. Must be in my DNA.

And while my other examples of this era Mercedes are in silver or black, I really like the cream white color on this particular model.

AUTO art doesn’t disappoint in the model’s replication: fit, glazing and finish are tidy, the stance and appearance kits are marvelous and they seem to have the shape geometry a bit better on the back end then others have been able to manage in similar models. The model comes with the usual removable top but why you would ever want to use it for display purposes mystifies me....but I’m not you.

There is not a lot of detail but the cost cutting isn’t evident here: the color keyed metal dash inlay and wheels, deft chromed accents on the wheel arches and real spare tire are steps ahead.

The engine isn’t at a CMC level but it’s impressively detailed. For as much as I look at engines in non competition bred cars, it’ll more than suffice.

It would be easy to over analyze a simple car and model like the Mercedes 190SL: essentially a small engine runabout more than a speed screaming spyder.

But its an impressive model in its simplicity.

I find myself thinking about it much like I did AUTO art’s Porsche 911 of two years ago. It is a classic that isn’t over thought or over-wrought: it is flat just cleanly executed.

And that, my friends, is where and why AUTO art wins hearts and wallets so often.

(08/09/2012)