Modified Yet Period-Correct, This Mercedes-Benz 190SL Is Displaced In Time

This week we join Michael Potiker for a ride back in time in his tastefully modified Mercedes 190 SL as he wheels around Los Angeles in the low-cut period-correct roadster.
For most, the gorgeous Benz offers more than enough personality in stock form, and would be no difficult feat to become attached to, but to achieve an even deeper bond with his machine Michael hasn’t shied away from adding some custom touches. After acquiring the 190 SL following a serendipitous stroll down his father’s street where the pair came across the car for the first time, he went about researching the legacy of the model to discover what they were used for, trying to ascertain their place in the era from which they came.
Though often shadowed by its older brother the 300 SL, Mercedes also offered packages for 190 SL owners who were looking to go racing, and upon learning of this option Michael went about sourcing parts and finding builders to transform his car into a Southern California-style racer while also paying homage to the original Rennsport kit (which Mercedes would sell to customers separate from the car, with the owners adding the pieces themselves).
On the experience of driving the resulting slice-like Mercedes roadster, he explains that for him, “It’s not even about the roads and the scenery, it’s about rowing the gears and operating this absolutely ridiculous vehicle.” While it’s nice to enjoy our cars in ideal settings, we have to agree with Michael on what’s paramount in all of this, and that is the actual act of driving, regardless of where it’s happening.
There are certain cars, like this one is for Michael, that have that kind of pull on us that can turn any drive into an activity that reaffirms your original passion for the car. And when you use such a thing regularly? That’s even better, and in keeping with his idea that it’s important to use cars like this, because it’s “about experiencing something that’s drastically different from the everyday,” even if you’re still using it every day.
Beyond the lowered doors and windscreen, the “cafe road racer” look is achieved through an interesting shade of green applied to the body and unadorned steel wheels, a subtle and appropriate livery, and some prominent Marchal driving lights mounted at the corners of the classic ovoid Mercedes grille. On the performance side of the changes, the 190 SL’s inline-four has been fitted with some hotter Webers, which leaves you with what is “effectively a pedal that’s an on-off switch,” and as Michael goes on to explain, “It changes the way you drive because you look for these opportunities to be flooring the car.” In order to keep the thing planted in this pursuit of full-throttle driving, the suspension components have been upgraded to stiffer and newer pieces to cope.
On the joys of using a car like this often, Michael remarks that it’s like being in “a cosplay time machine as a 1950s racing driver.” If a car can elicit those kinds of wondrous child’s-imagination-come-true feelings and turn that into a regular reality, that’s Driving Tastefully®.
Petrolicious.com
/ petrolicious

[@DeltaSniperZRR]

The cinematography is amazing, maybe one of your best Petrolicious. Its now more like short-movie.

[@alexcheetah79]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed.

[@archierri]

Hello, teal&orange Look!

[@lolboicam1711]

Only if i could nominate this channel for an oscar.

[@davidparker8221]

I believe that the spelling you're looking for is Awes-Car ( Awesome Car or Cars !) What extraordinary vehicles, what extraordinary filming! Truly delightful!!! A moveable feast!

[@18echosf]

I absolutely love the way you've filmed this video and the music in each section was fantastic!

[@erichakanson7010]

absolutely stunning. looks beautiful. sounds heavenly. everything you want in a car. and this video is exactly why I love Petrolicious so much. I'm somewhat familiar with the history of this model but didn't know about the rennsport kit. petrolicious not only gives us gorgeous cars to look at and listen to but always gives us a little history lesson as well. also, petrolicious camera work/cinematography is the best on KZbin. the shot at the 2:17 exemplifies how this car is right at home winding it's way down a tree lined highway.

[@silvertoy_]

The car is amazing. The video is amazing. I think Sir Stirling Moss would be wearing the goggles not using them as a prop/fashion statement. I'm very glad this car is owned by a person who puts it on the road and it's not sitting somewhere rusting away or hidden away.

[@cutdepiefails6596]

Car is rotten lol. Dude spent every dime in the absolutely wrong things, jay leno did it best. Outside looks like shit, original. Engine and mechanical bits running like a dream.

[@kikowner]

To Petrolicious and everyone else involved in the making of this video: thank you, thank you, thank you. I've said it and I will say it time and time again: this is the kind of video I'll show to anyone who asks me why I like cars. The footage, the sound, the people, the cars, the groovy feeling. Amazing every single time. Thanks again for establishing what the love for classic cars and mechanics in general is

[@WAYAWAYWithAsh]

This was a great video! Loved the juxtaposition of modern LA against the old Merc.

[@kairodavian114]

You all probably dont give a shit but does any of you know of a method to get back into an instagram account? I stupidly forgot my login password. I love any assistance you can give me.

[@kenzoeddie6972]

@Kairo Davian Instablaster =)

[@kairodavian114]

@Kenzo Eddie I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site through google and im trying it out atm. Takes a while so I will reply here later with my results.

[@notchboy]

Is that LA? Salazar's is in San Diego.

[@pR1sooeem]

petrolicous, you guys and the people you feature have such a supreme taste, your videos truly are a pleasure to watch

[@jpm74]

He's a hipster yes. But, there's room for hipsters in the car world. A very beautiful Merc.

[@imtiredbosss]

plenty of hipsters have money. see Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

[@imtiredbosss]

hipster was actually a term that was used a lot 2005 - 2010. Nowadays its just a buzzword/insult for some young person who might dress differently from you. Kinda like a yuppie.

[@TheLLentini]

sunglasses with goggles on the helmet. dead give away.

[@zer0bre]

He's a hipster. No doubt about it. And you don't use words from 2005 to 2010. A word is a word. It doesn't lose meaning after five years. It still means the same. Representing a modern, mild, soft mannered, technologically more advanced, Apple loving, vintage caring, beard wearing type of a guy that's somewhat or totally apolitical. They're prone to use stuff their grandparents used to use just because they think they look cool, usually not interested about the history of the item at all. Overall more intelligent that you average guy but still flawed by vanity .

[@scratchacat]

Daniel Z most people are flawed in some way. I'd rather they be flawed like you describe than almost any other way!!

[@standewit7097]

This guy gives the word hipster a whole new meaning. Fantastic car tho

[@tadficuscactus]

Stan de Wit before I read any comments I was going to write that this video is a hipsters wet dream. I must say I like it though.

[@adg1017]

Ditto, just two years later.

[@mostlyirishcarguy8955]

Didn't know much about this car...man I'm pleasantly surprised, looks and sounds beautiful

[@malcolmgay2967]

Fabulous classic being used. Thanks for sharing.

[@aussiebloke609]

One of my favourite cars on this channel. I love the "period" look...far from a show car...paint imperfections, dirty carb bodies, rust on the block, and past fluid dribble evidence. Exactly what you'd expect to find if you went back to its heyday and peeked under the bonnet at a racer. Shame it doesn't have the 300 SL engine - but I imagine the number of things that break would shoot up then, and I hate to think what repairing that fabulous injection system would cost. :-)

[@aborer1790]

I feel the same way with my little '67 Vw Beetle. Shortly after I came into this country my earliest remembrance was a yellow 69 beetle driving the opposite way. My father and I searched for the perfectly weird one, then after my 16th birthday I scrolled through Craigslist and I saw this little red beetle and I instantly fell in love. When we went out to take a look I was grinning ear to ear - I was like shaking nervously. Few days later I got her, fixed her brake lines, bought new front shoes, and a spark plug. In a couple months it'll be 3 years since I had her. 😄😄😄❤

[@76ajc]

Man, oh man..... even the seat upholstery....the jazzy soundtrack..... such perfection. The glint of light off the instrument panel and that beautiful steering wheel. Y’all are KILLING IT!! This is true automotive art. Thank you guys. Sincerely.

[@Brian-ff7tw]

it smells of rich mahogany...

[@markdelgado1466]

What a great video. Thank you for the experience!

[@lugnut4848]

Such a true enthusiast car! This is what its all about.

[@parismalaspinas2488]

This shouldn't be free to watch. You guys are absolutely killing it with these videos.

[@waynegto1484]

Brilliant video and a car full of character.....thanks for preserving such cool car.

[@hobbeezy]

What a beauty, thanks Petrolicious!

[@nicholaslopez7918]

Beautiful car and kudos to the guy for keeping it going!

[@Requiredfields2]

Thanks for explaining its quirks and features.

[@kcranny9375]

You are definitely living the dream! Good on ya'!

[@reidwelch8419]

My first car was a '55 190SL in the same color. It was a well-worn original in 1973, and the same green as this wonderful preservation/reiteration. Below the dark green were six earlier alkyd enamel paint jobs! The cars of this era aged in characteristic ways this video show up well. Mine still had the OEM Solex sidedrafts. They were a plague I could not, at 19, in the USN on active duty, deal against. They were both cracked across the venturi sections because a previous owner had removed and discarded the carb braces. The Solex bodies were priced at $1400 each (!) at that time. I did not know about Webers ,or much of anything. I only knew the 190SL was the car of my young dreams. I bought it, a pig in a poke, from a Navy chief from Columbia, SC for $1.400 and owned it for several years. When I passed it along to a new owner of more substantial financial means, I included all the NOS parts I had managed to obtain, including a $112 factory fresh steering wheel, from the Summerville, SC MB dealership. What a sweet and quirky car the 190SL will always be. This video and its production and the car and owner are first rate. Thank you, Petrolicious.

[@tomkemp3008]

This guy's having a blast with that car. NIce to see. Great video -- Thanks!

[@redriver15262]

Seeing this car In Little Italy was an Event! Such an Awesome car!

[@christophergustafson3942]

This is an amazing car story - Well Done Mr. Potiker

[@fionnoleary8022]

one of my favourite videos on the channel, what a car.

[@fw1421]

You are one lucky man! I've always had a thing for the 190SL's. Beautiful classic!❤️❤️❤️

[@irfann8820]

One of the most beautiful piece of art...

[@NuclearGrizzly]

Not usually a Mercedes fan but in this case I'll make an exception. Nice work.

[@marcryvon]

Wow, another Tastefully done video! Kudos, guys.

[@hectorortega06]

Wow, what a beautiful automobile. The amount of time and dedication spent on this vehicle is apparent at first sight. What a great video petrolicious.

[@angelozhang7687]

Lovely car! I love the BGM of this one!

[@TheDarwiniser]

stunning quality, both the car and the production, well done.

[@DANIELSCHMITTClassicCars]

Oh and what a beautiful car this is! Got one too, in Signal Red

[@motorhead69ification]

Glorious, I applaud you Sir !!!

[@izzelyy3189]

Superbe car. Awesome video quality. Loved that :)

[@ferris5150]

gorgeous car...even more gorgeous filming

[@theoriginalrabbithole]

What a beautiful and unique automobile! Great music and footage too.

[@grey-nimbus]

Great video. You really captured the essence of owning and driving a classic sports car ( any classic sports car ! ). It's about the driving!

[@goodboybuddy1]

Car and production... sheer poetry.

[@virgilrytaar9083]

just the perfect film. Cathartic!

[@klasseact6663]

This video certainly shows you that everyone has a different perspective on what is a perfect car.

[@Mantenner]

holy shit, this one just raised the bar. The filming was amazing, something even better about this one than your usual ones.

[@Retrobeemer]

Beautiful car. It takes real commitment to drive something like that Mercedes every day. It sounds awesome with the Webers too.

[@exoticarauto]

So cool! Thanks!

[@marcobonnet]

With the music and the final scene it reminds me of Comedians in Cars getting Coffee. Great cinematography again.

[@phillipmassie6552]

I get it completely. Though I kept it garaged during the longer bouts of Fall & winter rain and snow The XK-120 was my usual daily driver. It was a well made reliable car, that smelled like leather and oil and was such a pleasure to listen to and drive, it made you a better driver. I never altered anything on it. Those 600 x 16.00 tires were not bad in the snow either. I couldn't imagine taking time away from all that to listen to a radio, or to have a vulgar TV screen in the middle of the dash. Thanks for the great share. P. C. Massie.

[@RYFABGarage]

love this. ! The soundtrack of both the engine, and score shoice... cant beat those webers. :)

[@colbybuchanan3348]

Another amazing video!

[@UberLummox]

He says "I don't really understand how people got around in the mid 1960s based on the rate things break at". Obviously he wasn't around then to see how dependable and FIXABLE old cars were and still are. Fun video just the same.

[@nestorpalacios659]

I go back to this video about once every few weeks. Full of envy

[@96sightingsfilms60]

The cinematography and the edits is insane!

[@danekeeper1]

Nice!!!I love the rear overhang and the general shape of your old Merc....the sounds and smells must be a real and honest experience...I'm Jealous.

[@Gearz70]

Purists, wrenchers, hotrodders, collectors, lifestyle aficionados, we all catched the same virus, Michael Potiker sure drives the dream and it suits him like a jacket, that's what it's all about. beautiful car, love the 2nd day mods.

[@kokokurniawan9206]

The cinematic is so great!

[@klasseact6663]

I rewatched this video at home instead of in my work vehicle and I have to tell you guys this, it's spot on! I can't ever speak like this about anything, just not that astute, I'd be more "shot from the hip" but then again I'll never have my dream car but that's a story for another day. Any who, this guy, as well as many others featured here on Petrolicious, really "get it" when it comes to cars. Chalk this one up in the rafters of the Petrolicious Arena HOF!

[@mdeissard]

J'adore !! Superbe vidéo. C'est Hollywood :D !!

[@Vincent-Vega24]

Man, the car looks amazing but it sounds even better!!!

[@alanaustin4337]

Very cool car, very nicely filmed as well!!

[@TyCo87]

this channel makes THE BEST car videos on KZbin. The cinematography captures the essence of the car and driver. haters will hate because they don't understand the satisfaction that comes with doing things exactly as you like without care of what others think.

[@alekos911z4]

Another Petrolicious masterpiece. I wish I could give thumbs up more than once!

[@Johnybulletproof]

Your Videos are Simply Amazing , the Quality , The sound , the editing . 4:31 Felt like "DRIVE" from Thomas Winding Refn . Keep making Gorgeous Videos of Beautyful Speed Masterpieces !

[@geothon]

1:53 Got to love the plugged coolant outlet hose.

[@mattishereforu6086]

Stunning !

[@scootosan]

Totally Rad Machine, another fine example of what being a Car Guy is all about no matter where or what you drive....

[@donaldkress5760]

Most definitely one of the coolest Petro videos I've seen (although Derek Hill in the 250 GTO will always be #1). Great visuals, lighting mood, music and of course, that car! Great work, please keep them coming.

[@vitokhait9696]

This video made me happy .

[@kunstmol]

the car shows its age and history. perfect. perfect.

[@kim007250]

one of the best to date

[@KnightDriveTV]

Changing up the shooting style...definitely much needed. Definitely has more of a "story like" feel, versus a documentarian feel. I also like the in car camera movement. It takes me to the movie Bullit, where I felt like the way they shot in car back then felt so real. It was clearly a camera guy in the seat of that black Dodge with some fat, 40lb shoulder mounted rig movin around. Automotive cinematography got so stable with suction mounts and trailers that towed the actors around to look like they were driving. This feels more "real". Also looked like some crazy jib shots off of a moving vehicle...didn't seem drone-like...all very interesting and innovative for this channel it seems. Good stuff. Plus I didn't have to read the video....I hate to be American and want to hear english but....I do enjoy understanding the words so I can actually watch the video.

[@colejaneteas]

Just stunning.

[@PiotrZmijewski1987]

Bravo!!!

[@yoyo11177]

This is a legitimate and wonderful car show for youtube....and i love it. This is a geniune appreciation of the beauty of cars. I LOVE THIS CHANNEL Starting to get annoyed with these "Car Tubers" such as Solomodrin, Vehicle Virgin, Street Speed....click bait galores, and all about spending money

[@luisbalderrama8145]

I love this channel so much.

[@AlexNijv]

great video great car

[@aleoimpala]

Beautiful car. Sound good too.

[@jackallen6261]

Okay, first the production quality of this video is superb! The opening scene is just amazing! I do not jest when I say you should seriously consider making a full length feature film with several of these stories (I would most defiantly include this one in a maybe more extended form) The evening scenes driving in the city are outstanding! I can almost feel the excitement in the air as I watch this. Very nice work!! Thank you!

[@TheSeeka]

Dude is living the dream!

[@franciscovasquez4555]

Vicariously live the dream, during the video. I'm a huge fan of the channel

[@drew7223]

Simply amazing.

[@camanraya4745]

This is the best channel i have, one day i will have my dream car !!

[@JuanVargas-yq1rz]

Loved it and learned somthing new.

[@Vampirebear13]

As ALWAYS this is EPIC.

[@zoesbro1]

That engine sounds so good

[@MrTimstaaa]

What a fantastic car

[@matthijsgerretse3217]

WOOHOO! Another Stirling Moss reference!

[@bikesqump]

Love that he wears a helmet in his car, all the time, every time!

[@TheStevemcqueen68]

Great story.

[@samsonian]

Gawd what a beautiful car! Love the lines, love the engine note, love the colors...wow! Not sure that bucket will do anything besides keep your cranial contents from fouling up the interior (lol)...also LOVE the leopard print house shoes!

[@sophiareed2443]

What an incredible car and video, you have just changed my mind on my new 190SL project, can i ask what model of Weber’s your running and suspension, where did you get your helmet from ? Thanks again Jr

[@just_Cabbage]

This channel i love it!!!

[@clann87]

Ok, this video has now gone up in the top 5 petrolicious videos.

[@frightenedskillet1051]

Literally just explained how I feel

[@KevinD21]

What an awesome car. Seems like this video is the inspiration for the Petrolicious logo....

[@VintageOutboardMan]

I love this channel so much! Keep up the good work :)

[@XXx-ev8in]

Great car so unique

[@bravolima7766]

Awesome car ! Awesome movie ! You are the best... When I drive my vintage Merc, I dream you are filming me... for immortality ahahah