1956 Mercedes 190SL undercarriage photos

RUST AND THE 190SL

Due to the manufacturing process, 50 years time, moisture, road salt and people's good intentions many 190SLs are horribly rusted.  This usually shows on the upper body but especially on the underside.  This particular car has escaped with only a tiny bit of rust-through compared to most (especially Eastern examples).  What you see on this page is an original floor pan.  It has not been repaired.  It did not have aftermarket undercoat applied post-factory that actually held in moisture.  It has not had black, gooey undercoat applied to hide any sins.  This floor shows all of the original features that should be there.  Just scroll down and you will see them. 

From the factory 190SL floors came only with paint (usually Sandalwood in color) and a small amount of seam-sealer on the seams.  If you see one with thick, bumpy undercoating over the whole floor, it was applied in the aftermarket.  If you see one with fresh, new undercoating you have to ask, "what it is hiding?".

Note the "+" marks which are a factory feature.

Atypical here are the solid spare tire wells with the drains visible.  Many times the drains plugged up with debris allowing the wells to hold condensation and the wells rotted out.

It is always comforting to find many original features as this tells us the car was never crashed hard.

The actual battery box was repaired long ago so in a warm, dry climate this rust is going nowhere.  Drive the car as is or this area is easily fixed - about $1200 in our shop.