CMC M-055 Model Car Mercedes SSKL, Mille Miglia, 1931

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 and white painting. 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 (Super Sport Kurz Leicht = Super Sport Short Light). With this new racing car, Afred 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 to headed back to Bologna, Ferrara, Treviso, and finally Brescia.

12th of April, 7:22 am: After 16 hours, 10 minutes and 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 had 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.

We are celebrating the 75th anniversary of this terrific victory in 2006. CMC observes the occasion of this event with a perfect replica of the unforgetable champion car.

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.

Model Car Data:

Type: Assembled, handmade precision model
Manufacturer: CMC GmbH, Germany
Scale: 1:18
Item No.: M-055
Number of Parts: 1,885
Limitation: -,--

Model Car  Details:

• True-to-the-original cockpit with all instruments and an exact-detailed dashboard
• Movable wind shields
• Steering wheel and seats covered with genuine leather
• Movable hand levers for acceleraton- and ignition adjustment
• Radiator grill and wire mesh guard made of high-quality metal
• Lateral flexible metal tube exhaust pipes
• Double-wing engine hoods that fold in opening and are fastened by leather-belts. Spring-hooks to hold the engine hood in closing
• Starting number printed by the tampon method
• Movable tank cap of stainless steel
• Leather folded top (not expandable)
• Two spare wheels fastened by a toggle scew
• Six cylinder in-line-engine with the compressor and all aggregates, cabeling and pipes
• Masterly manufactured engine hood of metal on filigree hinges
• Accurate display of the open work ventilation slots
• Special board for jerry can and wooden hinged toolbox (containing miniature tools)
• Stainless-steel spokes mounted on the aluminium rim by hand and with a nipple-stem at each base
• ........

Technical specifications of the original vehicle:

• Six cylinder in-line-engine with overhead camshaft
• Compressor that can be activated when required 
• Displacement: 7,059 ccm • Maximum output: 240hp (without compressor), 300 hp (with activated compressor) at 3,300 rpm 
• Topspeed: 235 km/h
• Wheel base: 2,950 mm
• Total length: 4,250 mm
• Track width: 1,470 mm (front), 1,460 mm (rear)