The Dynamic Duo Mercedes-Benz SSKL, 1931 Grand Prix of Germany

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The Dynamic Duo
Mercedes-Benz SSKL, 1931
Grand Prix of Germany
Extraordinary in a Class of the Exquisite
Scale
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That`s how the victor of the GP of Germany 1931 looked. Rudolf Caracciola and his winning Mercedes-Benz SSKL, also
known as the strong “White Elephant”. A perfect alliance of man and machine became a truly “dynamic duo”. CMC has
recreated this victorious race car, with starting number 8, true to the original. This most impressive model is limited to 4,000
pieces worldwide (item-no. M-082).
One manufacturer dominated the racing scene from the
mid to the late 1920’s, and even in 1931. That manufacturer was Mercedes-Benz with its legendary supercharged
models from the SSK series. The race cars of that period
proved their performance in a variety of races.
The
Mercedes-Benz racers were called the “White Elephants”
because of their overwhelming power and great size.
1931 became a very special year for the talented driver
Rudolf Caracciola and his SSK. The Mercedes-Benz factory
in Untertürkheim only provided limited support because of
the worldwide economic crisis.
In spite of that, Rudolf
The car just carried one spare wheel in this GP. The driver
and his co-pilot had to refuel the car and change the
wheels on their own. It took them only 1 minute and 4
seconds to fulfil that task. Not bad at all!
Caracciola, with his lightweight SSKL, achieved two sensational victories in 1931. Caracciola’s greatest victory was
undoubtedly the Mille Miglia on April 12-13, 1931. Soon
after, the public was treated to his next triumph in a
Mercedes SSKL.
On July 19, Caracciola and his “White
Elephant” achieved victory in the Grand Prix of Germany.
The race was held at the legendary Nordschleife of the
Nürburgring, also called the “Green Hell.” The drivers had
to master 22 laps, a challenge of 501.8 km. “Caratsch” and
his co-pilot Wilhelm Sebastian covered that distance in only
4 hours, 38 minutes, and 10 seconds, with an average
speed of 108.3 km/h.
Already back then, they removed all parts from that car that
they didn`t considered as mandatory. So they removed the
lights and as well the fenders.
CMC GmbH & Co. KG Classic Model Cars
Robert-Bosch-Straße 41 . D-73770 Denkendorf · Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 711-4 40 07 99-0 . Fax: +49 (0) 711-45 43 78
[email protected] . www.cmc-modelcars.de
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