Replica Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W194) Grand Prix of Bern, 1952 #20 blue

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 in 1:18 scale.

Following extensive research and development, a completely new Mercedes-Benz Racing Coupé was developed. It is known as the 300SL (W194). The new coupé featured smooth, rounded edges and was only 1270 mm tall. The 300SL was presented to the press in March 1952 on the A81 motorway. This newly developed racing coupé marked Mercedes' return to motorsport racing.

This aerodynamic sports car, equipped with an extraordinary entry through wing doors that open from the lower edge of the side window and rotate upward around the central part of the roof, immediately captivates racing enthusiasts.

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

Three officially registered 300SLs were decorated with extremely 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 (#22) at the wheel. 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 when Rudolf Caracciola had a tragic accident after veering off the track due to a stuck front brake, hitting a tree on the 13th lap. He was taken to hospital with a broken thigh and other injuries.

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

Information about Classic Model Cars (CMC)

Stylish products combined with the highest quality finishings make us synonymous with 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 brands producing miniature vintage cars. The company creates classic and collector’s models using authentic materials and fabrics.

Since 1995, CMC has had its own manufacturing facility with highly qualified engineers and staff in China. The result of months of research is 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.

Each component is carefully assembled by hand. Instruments on the dashboard are mounted separately. 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.