Paul Russell and Company

Chassis No. 36038
Engine No. 77644

The ultimate Porsche-designed Mercedes-Benz, the 'S' or 'W-06' class cars were powered by a supercharged, in-line six cylinder engine with overhead camshaft, two updraft carburetors, and dual ignition. Approximately 372 of these Sport models were produced between 1927 and 1934. Forty-two of them were SSKs (for Super Sport Kurz or Short), short chassis two-seaters which could reach 115 MPH with the Sindelfingen factory body. The first vehicle specifically created to be driven on the road and on the racetrack, it proved to be remarkably successful at such venues as LeMans, Monaco, and the Mille Miglia.

When this chassis was completed in 1930 the factory racing program was over, leaving available a few special components for use on the last of the road cars. Two examples on this engine were higher compression pistons and the renowned 'elephant blower' or supercharger. The factory commission papers show that this chassis (without a body) was first shipped to Tokyo, where it was not able to attract a buyer. After returning briefly to the factory, it traveled to Milan where Mercedes-Benz agent Carlo Saporiti sold it to Count Carlo Felice Trossi. During our research for the restoration the Trossi family archives yielded two renderings, from an unknown, independent coachbuilder, based upon the Count's personal sketches of an open roadster without top, the 'Count Trossi' SSK.

The magnificent car you see here could not have been authentically restored without the generous enthusiasm of prior owners and other collectors. For example, the dashboard layout is unlike any other SSK. Thanks to historical documents saved by Count Trossi's daughter and grandchildren, we are able to see the layout of the dash in a photo taken in front of their family home. We also have early photographs kindly supplied by Miss Mary Schaub, daughter of the man who owned it from 1954 to 1963. From these sources and others, we were able to verify that the hand painted reference marks on the tachometer have been there since before the 1950s.

Chasing leads and digging for information is one of the most important and least acknowledged aspects of any restoration project. Upon disassembly of the engine we noted that many of the parts had been numbered RB 1420-14 (an internal work order number) by the factory. However, the number stamped on the oil pan was not a match. With the help of noted German collector Fritz Grashei, we conducted an extensive search through many private collections and found the original oil pan. Ultimately we negotiated an exchange in order to return the correct oil pans to both this SSK and to the engine in Germany.

We accomplished this challenging restoration in collaboration with the current owner and his vision for this dramatic road-going sports car. This joint effort was rewarded with Best of Show at the 1993 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and at the 1995 Meadow Brook Hall Concours d'Elegance. The Count Trossi SSK has since been honored by its inclusion in the 'Moving Beauty' exhibit at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in 1995 and in the 'Speed, Style & Beauty' exhibit at the Boston Museum of Arts in 2005.

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“The steel wings are glorious pontoon affairs that look as spectacular in plan view as in profile. Some of White's detailing was gorgeous, too: the way that the rear wings and tail have matching spines; the rear wing spats bearing Mercedes three-pointed star motifs; and the sculpted paneling over the dumb irons.”

Mark Gillies
“Beauty of the Beast”
Classic Cars