Mercedes-Benz 190C 'Fintail' Saloon

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Introduced in mid-1959, the Mercedes-Benz W111 Series was nicknamed the 'Fintail' (or ‘Heckflosse’) after the distinctive rear end which had raised wing tops designed to appeal to a US market that had gone fin-crazy at the time – though it has to be said that the Mercedes fins are mercifully muted compared to a Cadillac from the same era.

Just oozing Cold War cool, the Fintail reeks of shady doings at dark border crossings, headlamps blazing as Smiley’s people bundle a defector into the boot and Alsatians bark in the distance. Beautifully styled by Paul Bracq and made with immensely strong unitary body shells that were the first to have crumple zone protection, they were famously safe and sturdy machines.

The W110 Series came out in 1961 and had even smaller tail fins, the 190c having a 1.9-litre four-cylinder engine that produced 80bhp and gave the car a top speed of 94mph and a 0-60 time of 17.7 seconds. A diesel version was also offered which became the taxi driver’s car of choice throughout Germany in the 1960s, with some 225,600 diesels and 130,500 petrol models being sold before it was replaced by the 200 and 230 models in mid-1965, the vast majority in LHD.

This particular 190c is a rare right-hand drive model that has covered only 79,000 miles to date in the hands of just three owners. It was bought new by an embassy in London in March 1964 but they only kept it for six months before it was acquired by a London gentleman who was to keep it until his death 47 years later.

In conversation with the vendor, the grandson of the second owner stated that the car was only really used for summer holiday trips to the West Country and in many years it only went to the MOT station and back. He also recalled that no-one was allowed to even sit in the car unless invited to do so first by grandfather!

The family kept the car’s original number as a memento when grandfather passed away, so the vendor got a new age-related number from DVLA when he acquired the car in May 2011. Joining a fleet of classics that he is fortunate enough to own, the Fintail was immediately entered into the gruelling Dar-es-Salaam to Cape Town Rally which is why it is still fitted with a sump and tank guard.

“The car performed amazingly well for the whole 5,000 miles, the only minor hiccup being caused by a faulty condenser,” states the vendor. “We had a great time in the Fintail with many fond memories and I am most reluctant to let it go – I sometimes just sit in it and the smell alone brings back so many memories. It is probably the most original, correct and sound car that you will find, everything works as it should and it is always a pleasure to drive. Unfortunately it has to go to make way for a more sporting addition to my collection.”

We can confirm that the car is indeed in remarkably good and original condition throughout, firing up instantly when extracted from its Carcoon and running beautifully as we manoeuvred it for these photos despite several weeks of inactivity beforehand. Supplied with a good history file and with an MOT until March 2015, it has already proved itself as a long-distance rally car but would no doubt prefer a less adventurous fourth owner who can preserve it for future generations to enjoy.