Car Mercedes SSK Trossi, 1932 Black Prince

Besides being the only vehicle of its kind with a famous history, the Trossi Roadster holds special significance for CMC. It dates back to the beginnings of CMC in 1995, when the company's two co-founders, Shuxiao Jia and Herbert Nickerl, introduced the first car model produced by CMC, replicating none other than the Trossi Roadster in 1:24 scale. Immediately after its debut, the CMC miniature was recognized by the professional magazine “Model of the Year”. While the vehicle is considered one of the most valuable Mercedes-Benz classics in the world, the CMC replica aimed to do justice to the fascinating original car.

Count Carlo Felice Trossi came from the noble Gaglianico family in Biella, northern Italy, and was born in 1908. As an athlete and racing driver, he was appointed vice-president of Scuderia Ferrari in 1931. Known for his skill behind the wheel, he finished second in the 1932 Mille Miglia race.

The chassis SSK 36038 was initially delivered to Japan without a body in 1930, and from there – still without a body – it was sent to Rome, where it received a buyer and a coachbuilt body. Alongside signatory Antonio Maino, Count Trossi became the second owner of the car in June 1933. He commissioned William White, an English coachbuilder, to develop a new body design, which he sketched on a piece of paper. It was an extremely aerodynamic design and surprisingly aligned with contemporary trends.

The spectacular and unique configuration of the car, combined with its rich, glossy black finish, gives the vehicle an almost magical charm. However, before the start of the inspection works, Trossi sold the car to someone else, but soon repurchased it. The Black Prince remained with Trossi until his death in 1949.

Argentine Alfredo Polledo later bought the car, took it to South America, and sold it two years later to Charly Stich, an American whose workshop on Manhattan extensively restored the car over two years. Throughout the rest of the 1950s, the car changed hands again. It was acquired by Carter Schaub, an oil industry entrepreneur, who described his new acquisition as “the biggest car with the smallest trunk”.

After further sales, which began initially in 1962, the car was transported to southern France, then to England, where Charles Howard and Anthony Bamford restored it from the ground up. In 1983, the vehicle crossed the Atlantic again to join the collection of Tom Perkins, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur.

That same year, the Black Prince embarked on a tour along the US East Coast, eventually becoming part of the extensive and exclusive collection of Ralph Lauren, a successful fashion magnate. Paul Russel from Essex, MA, restored the car again at the request of its new owner, known as a perfectionist. It seems natural that the Black Prince won the “Best of Show” award at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 1993.

Information about Classic Model Cars (CMC)

Original products combined with the highest quality finish give us the synonym of the German brand Classic Model Cars. It is a true homage to handcrafted products that impress with their unique elegance and luxury.

CMC is one of the leading brands manufacturing miniature vintage car models. The company creates classic and collector’s models using authentic materials and fabrics.

Since 1995, CMC has operated its own production facility with highly qualified engineers and staff in China. After months of research, they produce a variety of classic car models, assembled by hand from over 1800 individual parts. The brand uses high-quality materials to fully preserve the “faithfulness to the original” of each 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 mats are laid inside the interior and trunk. The replicas reproduce the smallest details consistent with the original plans of the vehicle.