Car Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W194) Grand Prix of Bern 1952, #16 Caracciola

After participating in the Mille Miglia race in 1952, Mercedes-Benz headed to the Swiss Grand Prix in Bern, where a rare treat for the audience was scheduled. A simultaneous race with cars equipped with a 1.5-liter engine or larger was to take place. Mercedes-Benz entered three 300 SL Coupés. There were 16 in red, 18 in green, and 20 in blue. CMC masterfully recreated these three Icons to perfection at a 1:18 scale.

This aerodynamic sports car, equipped with an extraordinary gullwing door that opens from the lower edge of the side window and swings upward around the middle of the roof, immediately captivates racing enthusiasts.

Following its successful debut at Mille Miglia, the 300SL moved to the resumed sports car racing competition at the Bern Grand Prix on May 18, 1952.

All three officially registered 300SLs were adorned with strikingly colorful finishes, including dark red (Rudolf Caracciola, #16), green (Karl Kling, #18), and blue (Hermann Lang, #20), not to mention the silver finish of the replacement car with Fritz Rieß at the wheel (#22). The team was ready to face rivals from Ferrari, Lancia, Aston Martin, and Jaguar. By the end of the race, Mercedes-Benz celebrated a spectacular triple victory, taking 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places by Karl Kling, Hermann Lang, and Fritz Rieß respectively. However, the joy of victory was dampened by Rudolf Caracciola’s tragic accident when he lost control due to a stuck front brake and hit a tree on the 13th lap. He was taken to hospital with a broken thigh and other injuries.

His recovery was lengthy, and the fracture combined with knee surgery resulted in permanent weakness in his right leg, ending Caracciola’s racing career.

About Classic Model Cars (CMC)

Fantastic products combined with the highest quality finishings make us think of the German brand Classic Model Cars. This is a true homage to handcrafted products that impress with their unique elegance and luxury.

CMC is one of the leading companies producing miniature vintage cars. The company creates classic and collector’s models using authentic materials and fabrics.

Since 1995, CMC has operated its own manufacturing plant in China with highly skilled engineers and workers. After months of research, they produce a variety of classic car models, assembled by hand from over 1800 individual parts. The manufactory uses high-quality materials to fully preserve the “faithfulness to the original” of each vehicle model.

The company focuses on all major and popular collector scales: 1:12, 1:18, 1:24, 1:43. The first model produced by the company was in 1:24 scale — the iconic Mercedes-Benz SSK from 1930. Built in 1995, it has won numerous prestigious awards.

Every single element is carefully assembled by hand. Instruments on the dashboard are mounted separately. The seats are covered with fabric or leather. The floor lining is laid inside and in the trunk. The replicas replicate even the smallest details in accordance with the original plans of the vehicle.