Much like its 300SL bigger brother, the 190SL was the brainchild of Mercedes-Benz American importer Max Hoffman. Hoffman believed that a smaller, less costly roadster bearing a family resemblance to the more exotic 300SL would prove to be just as successful. In 1954, Mercedes displayed a concept car at the New York Auto Show, a beautiful two-seat roadster with a removable hardtop. This concept came to market in 1955 as the 190SL, a more approachable, less intense sports car compared to the record-breaking 300SL 'Gullwing'. Given the car's popularity upon debuting at the 1954 New York Auto Show and subsequent success throughout its nine-year production run, Hoffman was right.

While the 190SL featured a carbureted 1.9-litre inline four-cylinder engine compared to the 300SL's direct-injected 3-litre slant six, they shared a basic engine design, suspension system, and a level of detail and craftsmanship that defined Mercedes-Benz. The engine with dual Solex carburetors was rated to pro