Lot 511: 1962 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Convertible

This 1962 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Convertible, still owned by its original purchaser, a careful lady driver for the past 46 years, is a survivor of the military engagement that marked the end of the British Imperial presence in the Middle East. The car was ordered and purchased for a Mrs Youngman by her accountant husband while both were in the port city of Aden on the Arabian Peninsula. The original invoice is with the extensive file showing that Sunderji Kalidas & Sons (Aden) Ltd supplied the 190SL on 17th August 1962 for a total of 27,910 East African Shillings - �1,330 10s at the time. Extras specified were non-standard paint - British Racing Green at EAS250 (�12 10s) - and leather upholstery at EAS1,560 (�78).

Mrs Youngman recalls that the hood was rarely down and a hardtop was ordered 'as there were a number of grenades being thrown around towards the end'. For security reasons she was advised to carry a weapon of some kind in the car and chose a Walther PPK - James Bond�s gun of choice � though happily she never had to use it in anger. She also taught her five- and seven-year old children to play a game called �Duck!� in which they dived for the car�s foot-wells � a very tight squeeze even for small children. The game was never one that had to be played in earnest and the Youngman family were among the last �expats� out of Aden in 1967 when the civil unrest was at its peak.

Once in the UK the Mercedes was registered here, hence the 1967 'F' suffix to the registration, and has been in use ever since, albeit more and more sparingly in recent years. The car remains in very original condition and, although road legal and in good running order, is best described as a little tired. The original paint is cracking, bubbling and lifting in places, and although the body is straight and with good panel fit, there is evidence of corrosion in places. Similarly original, the interior shows signs of wear to trim and upholstery, including a couple of tears (primarily on the seams) to the seats. Replaced in recent years, the soft-top is in good condition and the hardtop likewise. When inspected in April, the car started readily, sounded good and maintained healthy oil pressure/water temperature readings when warm.

�SUU 547F� comes with a sizeable file containing many past MoTs testifying to 10,000 miles covered over the past 30 years and a mere 150 miles since 2000 (mileage at time of cataloguing is a little over 71,000). Also on file is the original bill of sale; many servicing invoices from Aden and here in the UK; Fahrzeug-Datem card; parts catalogue; owner's manual; two sales brochures; V5 registration document; road fund licence to March 2009; and MoT to August 2008.

This car is the only one from Mr Youngman�s accountancy firm that managed to escape from Aden when the British presence there ended, and it will be hard to find another 190SL with such an interesting provenance. �SUU 547F� can be used �as is� or - more likely - be viewed as a candidate for sympathetic restoration due to the remarkable life it has led.