One to Buy: the ex-Jeanne Strinati / Pierre Strinati 4500km 1956 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL
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In addition to a productionised version of the 300 SL raced to victory at the 1952 Le Mans 24 Hours and Carrera Panamericana, Mercedes’ recently appointed distributor for the United States, Max Hoffman, also convinced the firm to create a Convertible that shared many of the same styling cues but which could be sold at a lower price point.
The resultant 190 SL debuted alongside Mercedes’ Gullwing-doored 300 SL Coupe at the New York Motor Show in February 1954. Based on a more conventional unitary chassis and powered by a brand new four cylinder engine, it offered all the glamour of its big brother but with added practicality and simpler maintenance.
One lady to fall for the charm of Mercedes’ little beauty was Jeanne Strinati who acquired this car, chassis 121.040-6.502.538, from the Geneva MB agent Etoilauto SA on June 28th 1956. As part of the deal, Madame Strinati part-exchanged her 1955 Mercedes 180 which she had bought in November 1955. Bills for both purchases remain on file.
The 190 SL was supplied in Black with a matching hardtop, White leather upholstery, a set of Karl Baisch fitted luggage and whitewall tyres. Like many 190 SLs ordered with a hardtop, the car did not come with a convertible roof.
Having been very sparingly used, the black 190 SL was subsequently acquired by Jeanne Strinati’s son, Pierre. During the 1950s and 60s, Pierre Strinati assembled a superb collection of 1930s vehicles from the likes of Alfa Romeo, Bugatti, Delage, Mercedes-Benz, Talbot Lago and Voisin.
A Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing and BMW 507, both of which Mr Strinati purchased new, were also housed in the collection.
Although Pierre Strinati sold most of his collection during the 1980s, he kept the cars he loved the most, to include a sensational 1934 Mercedes-Benz 500K Coupe with coachwork by Vanvooren and his mother’s 190 SL.
On January 30th, both these vehicles will be going under the hammer at Bonhams’ Paris sale. They form part of eleven-strong collection retained by Pierre Strinati and recently discovered lying dormant in a Swiss garage. All were impeccably stored on axle stands waiting to be brought back to life.
As for the unrestored 190 SL, it shows a believed genuine 4612km on the odometer and must rank among the most original examples of its type to exist. The car retains its factory supplied rubber floor mats, fitted luggage and hardtop, the latter of which appears to have never been removed. In addition to its original book pack, the Strinati 190 SL even includes a bottle of touch-up paint supplied when the car was new!
