Sometimes, the most incredible automotive discoveries happen in the most unexpected places. Imagine walking through your neighborhood and stumbling upon a classic Mercedes-Benz hidden under a dusty cover, hinting at a forgotten beauty waiting to be unleashed. This is exactly what happened to Michael Potiker, leading to the resurrection of a stunning 190SL Barchetta. This isn’t just any restoration story; it’s a tale of uncovering a gem and transforming it into a head-turning machine that would capture anyone’s attention, even those with an eye for the finer things in life – like a classic Mercedes-Benz.
Ted Gushue: So, how did this amazing find come about?
Michael Potiker: It was pure chance, really. I was walking with my dad, just around our neighborhood, when I noticed a garage door slightly open at a house that looked like it hadn’t been touched in years. Peeking inside, I saw a car under a cover, with just a glimpse of chrome showing. It was coated in dust and grime, clearly sitting there for a long time, exposed to the elements. Yet, it had a custom cover, suggesting someone knew it was special once. Curiosity got the better of me. I went back the next day and knocked on the door. A nurse answered, and that’s when the story really began.
I asked if I could peek under the cover, and she hesitantly agreed, “Just the front.” Lifting the edge, the iconic Mercedes Tri-Star emblem appeared, and I was instantly impressed. Initially, I even mistook it for a 300! Playing it cool, I said to the nurse, “Wow, that’s an old Mercedes, huh? I don’t know much about these.” Then quickly covered it back up and left. But I was hooked. I managed to find the house phone number through a neighbor and called the next day.
I asked to speak to the owner, but I learned he was in palliative care and unable to communicate. After some careful persistence, I was connected with the estate trustee and his attorney, which opened the door to negotiate buying what I now knew was a 190SL. Apparently, my interest stirred up others who had also been eyeing the car, but through sheer luck, I managed to secure it.
It had been sitting untouched for maybe a decade. The hardtop was on, but the windows were open under the cover. Rodents had made it their home – droppings everywhere. The nurse even mentioned a dog had lived in it at some point.
TG: What kind of dog?
MP: Judging by the interior, something that shed a lot! (laughs). It was truly disgusting. I suited up in a full Tyvek suit with booties and a hood and started vacuuming. But I quickly realized the interior was beyond saving. I ended up taking a razor blade and cutting out the entire interior. Carpet out, and then these strange tiles on the floor held down with duct tape and nails. Definitely not factory! I was trying to get to the floor to assess the rust damage. I tapped a screwdriver against a tile with a hammer, and orange dust puffed out – asbestos tiles! Which made a strange kind of sense, given the flip-flops I found in the back. Clearly, the previous owner liked driving barefoot.
TG: Asbestos tiles? Why would anyone use those in a car?
MP: They are fire and heat-proof, but completely inappropriate for car flooring. He must have had them lying around from a home project in the ’70s and decided his feet were getting too hot driving on the beach. So, his solution? Tack asbestos tiles to the floor and cover them with carpet! There were other bizarre repairs too. A woman’s brass bangle clamped with a hose clamp holding a hose together. Loads of Bondo on the floor, even a residential window screen being used. The silver lining was the body; it was all original and had never been in an accident, so no bodywork was needed.
Restoring a Classic: From Barn Find to Beauty
The entire floor had to be cut out and replaced. I entrusted the car to Hjeltness Restorations, renowned ‘Gullwing’ specialists. Their metalwork expert replaced the entire floor. Incredibly, after finding it, the engine actually started! We got it home, hooked up a new battery and a fuel can, and it fired up. Ran rough, but it started.
Hjeltness rebuilt the carbs, but the engine is original, numbers-matching, a special export to Japan as the original owner was in the Marines. It has a unique plaque on the engine, specific to some Japanese export models. I am only the second owner, and I absolutely love this car. It’s the most enjoyable thing to drive.
TG: Do you know the paint color name?
MP: Yes, it’s Mercedes DB190, Dolphin Grey. The original interior was parchment, but the shop offered me this red interior. I couldn’t refuse! It was from a Concours-quality 190 that had the wrong interior color for its owner who wanted a completely original car. So, I got a Concours-quality red interior swapped in.
TG: What other modifications have you made to enhance its striking appearance?
MP: The wheels are actually space-saver spares from a Volkswagen Rabbit, drilled to fit and painted DB190. New-Old-Stock French selective yellow headlights with halogen bulbs, powered by a heavy-duty lighting relay. And Cibié 9″ Super Oscar driving lights, incredibly bright. The leather trunk straps were added, though I ended up rebuilding the trunk mechanism anyway, so they are mostly for the look.
The small windscreen is a replica of the RennSport screen Mercedes offered for the 190. The dash is extended slightly to accommodate the tonneau cover and push-fit connectors.
It’s running on aggressive coilovers set for rally use. It handles speed bumps and rough roads smoothly but still grips incredibly well. A custom sway bar from the 190 club is also installed. It has a new gear reduction starter and an alternator from the club too. It’s fitted with Weber carburetors. Originally, they had Solex carbs, but the Webers add another 35-40 horsepower. The Webers were already on it when I bought it, but I had them fully rebuilt. The exhaust was completely rusted, so it’s now a straight-through stainless steel system.
Eric Hjletness has been a great source of ideas, and we’re currently working on a Weber linkage and planning to install racing bucket seats for better support. I haven’t rebuilt the transmission or engine yet, and I feel incredibly lucky it runs as well as it does after sitting for so long.
TG: Why would you? [rebuild the engine/transmission if it’s running well]
MP: Exactly! It runs great after sitting for so long; I’ll wait until it gives up the ghost dramatically. It’s just a fantastic little car, so much fun to drive. Driving it around, you feel like everyone’s friend. It’s the kind of car that turns heads and draws smiles wherever it goes, a true showstopper. Imagine the photos you could take with this beauty – it’s a car that just begs to be admired and photographed, maybe even with some hot guys posing alongside it!
