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A new model car from CMC
Rudolf Caracciola's 1931 Mille Miglia winning Mercedes-Benz SSKL is in our New Model Showroom.
This amazingly well detailed 1:18 scale model from CMC is scheduled for release later this year, and features 1,885 individual parts in its manufacture. A list of this model car's many design features accompanies multiple images at our Showroom.
As for the actual car upon which the model is based, the 'Super Sport' series was designed by Professor Ferdinand Porsche with a supercharged seven litre six-cylinder engine putting out around about 300bhp and capable of speeds approaching 235kph.
The S / SS / SSK / SSKL cars competed in motorsport events from 1927 through to 1933, and this year marks the 75th anniversary of Rudolf Caracciola's win in the 1931 Mille Miglia. The SSKL had been created from a decision to lighten weight in an effort to better compete with the likes of Alfa Romeo and Bugatti, ultimately shedding 125kg compared to the SSK.
The team that tackled the Mille Miglia included co-driver and engineer Wilhelm Sebastian, and legendary Mercedes-Benz racing manager Alfred Neubauer. The support crew had to be able to keep ahead of Caracciola in order to service his vehicle at the four designated fuel stops along the 1,635 kilometre route. The Mercedes-Benz SSKL, much to the dismay of the Italian spectators and rivals, completed the event in the record time of 16h10m10s. Much of the dismay was centred on the fact that Rudolf Caracciola was the first non-Italian driver who drove a non-Italian car to victory in Italy's world-famous endurance race.
