Lexus V8-swapped Mercedes 190SL is a Problem Solver
While the 300SL had adequate power, the Mercedes 190SL didn’t. So one man solved that problem with a 1UZ-FE motor.
When it comes to iconic, beautiful cars, few measure up to the W198 and W121 Mercedes SL-Class roadsters. These curvaceous rides were/are pure eye candy, after all. But there was just one problem, of course. While the 300SL came with an adequate 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, the Mercedes 190SL made do with an underpowered 1.9-liter inline-four. So one man decided to do something about that with his 1962 190SL, which we spotted recently on eBay.
The former General Electric and Boeing engineer removed that 100-ish horsepower engine and replaced it with the much-beloved 1UZ-FE 4.0-liter Lexus V8. Renowned for its reliability, technical prowess, and tuneability, this aluminum block/heads, 32-valve, DOHC mill is a popular swap candidate for a variety of cars these days. But as far as we can tell, this is the world’s only Mercedes 190SL with that form of Japanese power under the hood.
And even though we generally despite mixing brands like this, in this case it makes total sense. The Lexus 1UZ fits perfectly and effectively triples the car’s original power rating. And it does so while also gifting the car both efficiency and reliability. And with a five-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential, we imagine this 2,575-pound roadster is quite the hoot to drive.
A far cry from an original Mercedes 190SL indeed. This gorgeous car now has all the qualities you’d expect from a timeless M-B classic. And outside of the upgraded mechanics and a set of custom 3-piece wheels, it’s virtually indistinguishable from an original. So perhaps the idea of installing a Japanese engine in a German car isn’t so strange, after all!
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