The Mercedes-Benz 190SL (W121) is a two-door luxury roadster produced by Mercedes-Benz between May 1955 and February 1963. Internally referred to as W121 (BII or B2), it was first shown as a prototype at the 1954 New York Auto Show and was available with an optional removable hardtop. The 190 SL presented an attractive, more affordable alternative to the exclusive Mercedes-Benz 300SL, sharing its basic styling, engineering, detailing, and fully independent suspension. Both cars had double wishbones in front and swing axles at the rear. Instead of the 300SL's expensive purpose-built W198 tubular spaceframe, the 190SL's R121 structure used a shortened unitary floorpan modified from the W121 ponton base saloon.