Mercedes-Benz SSK

From S to SSK

In 1929, Mercedes-Benz presented the SSK at the Geneva Motor Show. The car was based on the S series, which had been introduced in 1927, shortly after the merger of Daimler and archrival Benz. The S was in turn followed by the SS. The two cars were successful as long as the road was straight. This limitation worried racing manager Alfred Neubauer. That’s why, in the spring of 1928, the order was given to come up with a less cumbersome car. The result was the SSK, very fittingly standing for Super Sport Kurz.

Completely original

In a period of 3 years only 30 SSKs were built, an insignificant number given the annual production of 9,000 cars in the same period. About half of the SSKs were used very successfully in motor racing. As a result, many examples suffered mechanical failures and damage. This does not apply to the example in the Louwman Museum. Its history is extensively documented and the car is still completely original and in unrestored condition. This 1929 Mercedes SSK has no equal. But despite its exceptional condition and background, the car is still used for demanding historic drives, such as the Mille Miglia.

Famous and successful

The publicity value of the SSK was enormous. Many SSKs were owned by celebrities such as Dorothy Paget and David Scott-Moncrieff. Other SSKs managed to win an unprecedented number of races, such as the 500 Miles of Argentina, the Mille Miglia, the British Tourist Trophy, the Grand Prix of Ireland, Spain, Argentina and Germany, famous hill climbs and many more. So when Mercedes portrayed the SSK as the “white elephant” in advertisements as the world’s fastest sports car, this was no empty promise.

Ferdinand Porsche

Ferdinand began his career at Mercedes-Benz. He designed the S, the SS and the SSK. The SSK is the last car that Ferdinand Porsche developed for Mercedes-Benz before he went out on his own. At the end of 1928, after a dispute with the board of directors, the brilliant and tempestuous engineer stormed out in a rage that was reportedly only a few decibels quieter than the roar that came from the SSK he had designed. The roar of the SSK was extraordinary. The mechanical supercharger was aptly nicknamed the ‘elephant blower’.