1931 Mercedes-Benz SSK Sport II

In 1926, two of Germany's premier car manufacturers, Daimler and Benz, joined forces, creating Daimler-Benz A.G. It was done in the wake of the post-World War I depression, and the process began in 1925 and was formally consummated on June 26th of 1926. The two companies' manufacturing, product lines, and management were rationalized and integrated. A new logo was created to symbolize this union - a three-pointed start inside of a circle with the names 'Mercedes' and 'Benz' around it, which was bordered by a pair of laurel branches. The 'Stuttgart' cars were built at the Daimler factory in Stuttgart, while the 'Mannheim'-designated Mercedes-Benz vehicles were built at the Benz Works facilities in Mannheim, Germany. Both companies had a passion for creating vehicles that embodied a sporty persona, and this union only amplified this desire. The models created in the years following the merger between Daimler and Benz paved a clear road for the development of future sporting cars that would wear the three-pointed star, some of which was Mercedes-Benz's most popular and historically significant automobiles.

The Typ S was designed by Ferdinand Porsche in 1927 before he left to found his own company. Engineering talents of Hans Nibel and Fritz Nallinger were also instrumentation in the development of the Typ S, a vehicle that forever establish the credentials of Mercedes-Benz at the pinnacle of high-performance luxury automobiles.

The Mercedes-Benz Typ S was lower than its predecessor, the Model K (K for 'Kurzer Radstand' meaning short wheelbase), itself a short-wheelbase version of the Typ 400 and a variant of the Typ 630. The 400 had a 4-liter six while the 630 engine displaced 6.3-liters. The Typ S continued to use the K's 3,410mm wheelbase size that incorporated a 'unit' engine and transmission design with rigid mounts that provided cross-bracing and a jointed torque tube drive to the back axle. The size and weight of the engine contributed their own rigidity to the chassis structure. Numerous modifications were made to the single overhead-camshaft six-cylinder engine with its displacement size increased to 6,800cc, along with larger valves, dual carburetors, a modestly increased compression ratio, a larger supercharger that delivered 7-psi boost when engaged, and its cylinder block was constructed of a lightweight material called silumin. The engine was rated at 26/120/180 horsepower (denoting the engine's taxable, naturally aspirated, and supercharged horsepower ratings) and top speed was approximately 90 mph. Servo-assisted brakes provided the stopping power.

Mercedes-Benz produced 124 examples of the Typ S and 114 of the Typ SS. Lightweight two- and four-seater coachwork was built by Sindelfingen and Europe's finest coachbuilders.

The Mercedes-Benz SSK (W06) chassis was built from 1928 through 1932 with fewer than forty examples built. SSK was an abbreviation of Super Sport Kurz meaning 'Super Sport Short' due to its chassis being 19 inches shorter than the Model S, making it better suited for hillclimbs and short races. Its single overhead camshaft straight-6 engine was a 7-liter unit fitted with a Roots-type supercharger and producing between 200 to 300 metric horsepower and over 500 lb-ft of torque depending on the state of tune. With a top speed approaching 120 mph, the SSK was the fastest production car of its era. The supercharger was engaged via a clutch by fully depressing the throttle pedal and giving it an extra push. The supercharger clutch was disengaged when the throttle was released.

Competition success was rampant, with Rudolf Caracciola and Christian Werner winning the 1928 German Grand Prix and Carracciola winning the 1929 TT, the 1930 Irish Grand Prix and both the German Grand Prix and the Mille Miglia in 1931. The SSK won the 500 Miles of Argentina in 1929, and the 1929 and 1930 Cordoba Grand Prix.

At the end of the 1931 season, Mercedes-Benz was forced to retire due to the global financial crisis caused by the Stock Market Crash of 1929. Of the handful of SSK models built, very few have survived as many were involved in accidents, destroyed, or scrapped in period. Several were reconstructed and many replcias have been created, sometimes around original parts, causing authenticity to be troublesome.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2021