With the exotic, high-performance 300 SL coupe and roadster making headlines for Mercedes-Benz, the company’s chief US importer, Max Hoffman, suggested an equally stylish, yet less costly alternative could be a strong seller Stateside. The resulting 190 SL was based on the production Ponton sedans, but it featured attractive new styling loosely derived from its 300 SL big sibling. Following the 190 SL’s debut at the 1954 New York Auto Show, Hoffman was proven right with strong sales from day one, and its popularity continued throughout the car’s nine-year run.
