Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
October 10, 2025
DFW Museum Adds Iconic 1959 Mercedes 190SL to Collection
TLDR
- The DFW Car & Toy Museum gains a competitive edge by adding the rare 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL to its collection, attracting classic car enthusiasts and museum visitors.
- The 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL features a 1.9-liter M121 inline-four engine producing 104 horsepower with a four-speed manual transmission and double-wishbone front suspension.
- This museum addition preserves automotive history and cultural heritage, making classic car education accessible to the public with free admission and family-friendly exhibits.
- Experience the 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL's vintage interior with rare air conditioning and a 7,000-rpm tachometer at the DFW Car & Toy Museum in Fort Worth.
Impact - Why it Matters
This acquisition matters because it preserves an important piece of automotive history that represents a pivotal moment when luxury sports cars became more accessible to enthusiasts. The Mercedes-Benz 190SL was a groundbreaking vehicle that bridged the gap between exclusive high-performance sports cars and attainable luxury, influencing automotive design for decades to come. For car enthusiasts and historians, this addition to the museum's collection provides an opportunity to study and appreciate a vehicle that helped define the postwar automotive renaissance. The preservation of such classics ensures future generations can understand the evolution of automotive engineering and design, while also supporting local cultural institutions that celebrate our automotive heritage.
Summary
The DFW Car & Toy Museum has made a significant addition to its Ron Sturgeon Collection with the acquisition of a pristine 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL finished in classic white. This automotive icon represents the pinnacle of 1950s and 1960s luxury roadster design, perfectly capturing the engineering excellence and sophisticated styling that made Mercedes-Benz legendary. The vehicle features a spirited 1.9-liter M121 inline-four engine producing 104 horsepower, paired with a four-speed manual transmission that delivers an engaging driving experience even by modern standards. The technical specifications include double-wishbone front suspension, rear swing axles, and power-assisted drum brakes, creating what was considered a refined and smooth ride for its era.
Beyond its mechanical excellence, the 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL showcases remarkable interior sophistication that was ahead of its time. The cabin features a Becker AM/FM radio, manual wind-up clock, locking glove box, and even air conditioning—luxuries that were quite rare in vehicles of this period. The dashboard is dominated by a two-spoke steering wheel framing a 7,000-rpm tachometer and 140-mph speedometer, highlighting the car's sporty ambitions while maintaining everyday drivability. Museum founder Ron Sturgeon described the vehicle as "a mood, a lifestyle, and a testament to an era where elegance met innovation," emphasizing how the 190SL continues to capture the imagination of automotive enthusiasts worldwide. Visitors can now experience this automotive masterpiece firsthand at the museum's new 150,000-square-foot facility in North Fort Worth, which offers free admission and parking while maintaining the legacy of what was previously known as the DFW Elite Toy Museum.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, DFW Museum Adds Iconic 1959 Mercedes 190SL to Collection
