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- CMC M-055 Mercedes-Benz SSKL, Mille Miglia, 1931 No. 1137
Product Information:
CMC M-055 Mercedes-Benz SSKL, Mille Miglia, 1931
Serial No. 1137
Preowned Model in Excellent Condition
CMC Mercedes-Benz SSKL, Mille Miglia, 1931
After extensive and time-consuming research, CMC is able to uncover many details that are important in presenting the original look of the 1931 Mille Miglia victor. All these details are incorporated into the precision model that CMC is offering to you. This all-metal model is composed of 1,885 parts.
Description of the original vehicle:
By 1931 Alfa Romeo and Bugatti had become serious opponents for Mercedes-Benz on the race track. Professor Ferdinand Porsche, head of Mercedes-Benz’s racing car development, responded by reducing the weight of the SSK, known as “White Elephant“ because of its mighty appearance, overwhelming power painted white. Over 125 kg were shed after holes were drilled in the frame and every other possible place that was not safety-relevant. As a result, the SSK transformed into the SSKL (SuperSport Kurz Leicht = Super Sport Short Light). With this new racing car, Alfred Neubauer (head of the racing department) and his very small crew, undertook their greatest racing adventure ever at the Mille Miglia in 1931.
11th of April, 3:20 pm: Rudolf Caracciola and his co-driver Wilhelm Sebastian started off with the number 87 against their Italian competitors. They appeared unbeatable from early on. The 1,635 km roadway stretched from Brescia to Bologna, Florenz, and Rom. Then the racers had to cross the Abruzzo region and continued along the Adriatic coast to Ancona, where they turned and headed back to Bologna, Ferrara, Treviso, and finally Brescia.
12th of April, 7:22 am: After 16 hours, 10 minutes & 10 seconds, the victor of the Mille Miglia crossed the finish line. He set an outstanding new track record, averaging101.1 km/h. To make the sensation complete, it was the first time in the history of the Mille Miglia that the championship was won by a non-Italian driver in a car of foreign make: Rudolf Caracciola, the titan of the steering wheel in a Mercedes-Benz SSKL. It was a time when economic depression was plaguing the world. There was little support that Mercedes could have granted to its racing team. The team didn’t even have enough men for all the refuel stops. So the small crew had to take shortcuts so that they could reach the next refuel stop before Caracciola.
CMC celebrated the 75th anniversary of this terrific victory in 2006. CMC observes the occasion with a perfect replica of the unforgettable champion car.