1928 Mercedes-Benz SSK
Scale 1-18

A Glance Back To The Origin Of A Legend...

It was a bright day, too, for the daughter of Austrian banker Emile Jellinek. Her beauty was famed throughout the Cote d'Azur, and she received a warm ovation from the grandstand.

The name of the new automobile was chosen not by the man who built it, but by Jellinek, who was contracted to sell it. He made the radical decision to drop the name 'Daimler', which up until then had been applied to all cars produced by the Cannstatt factory.

To the Austrian Jellinek, 'Daimler' sounded too Germanic and ugly.

The new car owed much to Jellinek, the Daimler representative for the Cote d'Azur. He wanted to strengthen his position as a car salesman, and requested the new design in time for the Nice motor race, hoping to cash in on the publicity of winning the race.

To win the race, however, something better than the 24 hp Phenix currently being turned out of the Cannstatt factory was needed. A new 35 hp motor was the answer. Jellinek took a considerable risk, contracting to buy 36 of the new cars and undertaking distribution in France, Belgium, Austria-Hungary and America.

Maybach was by now the most important figure in Cannstatt, though he was always overshadowed by the aging Daimler. Maybach rose to the challenge and produced a vehicle full of innovative ideas, which was to set the standard for many years to come.

This was the first use of a pressed steel chassis. The engine was front-mounted, with a real bonnet, and one of the first honeycomb radiators in front.

The car boasted magneto ignition, mechanical valves, selective gate gearchange, and a four-cylinder in-line motor of close to six-litre capacity, .

The resulting 35 bph was sufficient to ensure a good chance in the Nice-Salon-Nice race and many races to come.

When the first models were already in production, the question of what to name the car remained undecided.

There was some opposition to dropping Gottlieb Daimler's name at a time when he was seriously ill, but Jellinek's resolve won the day. In fact Daimler died soon after, so further embarrassment was spared.

Maybach's "white jewel" was soon to become synonymous with prestige amongst rich Europeans.

The car that won the day at Nice in that far-off Spring shared the name of the daughter who was the jewel of her father's eye and the toast of the Cote d'Azur - Mercedes.

1928 Mercedes-Benz SSK

With the “k” standing for “Kurz” or short, the SSK has a wheelbase of only 116” (17” less than the SS). Weighing only 2680 lbs., its massive 431.4 cubic inch engine, when equipped with the Roots-type supercharger, had a top speed of 120 mph.

It was the fastest street automobile of its time and Mercedes had to warn its customers not to use the supercharger (it made an awful howl) unless absolutely necessary.

Precision Engineered from Mercedes-Benz Specifications
Every book about classic cars, from “Great Cars of the 20th Century” to “The Art of the Automobile-The 100 Greatest Cars”, lists the 1928 SSK as a masterpiece of automotive design and engineering.

From its gleaming front grille, newly enlarged tires, and famous triangular hood ornament through the detailed interior and to the double spare tires, this is the car the Grand Prix Hall of Famer Rudolph Caracciola drove to victory after victory in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s.

Only 31 SSK’s were ever produced and this 1:18 precision scale beauty is a must for every serious collector.

Model Features

• Opening Hood
• Working Steering System
• Detailed Interior Includes Gear Shift, Emergency Brake and Mercedes’ Famous Steering Wheel
• Precision DieCast Replica
• Baked Enamel Finish
• 1:18 Scale Model
• 9.50 Inches Long

Click here to buy this fantastic diecast
replica of the 1928 Mercedes-Benz SSK now!