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Topic starter
02/01/2024 11:26 am
This was my final purchase in 2023. Could not resist this with the figures added. I already have it by Minichamps, Provence Moulage and in 1/18 by CMC and Bburago.1955
Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR #722
The 1955 Mille Miglia was a 1,000 mile motor race held on a course made up entirely of public roads around Italy, mostly on the outer parts of the country on April 30-May 1, 1955.
A total of 534 cars started the event, across 12 classes based on engine sizes, ranging from up to 750cc to over 2.0-litre, for Grand Touring Cars, Touring Cars and Sport Cars.
This race was won by Mercedes-Benz factory driver Stirling Moss, then 25 years old with the aid of his navigator Denis Jenkinson. They completed the 992-mile distance in 10 hours, 7 minutes and 48 seconds- an average speed of 99 mph (158 km/h).
The two Englishmen finished 32 minutes in front of their second-placed teammate, Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio.
Unusual for this race, the weather was good for extended periods all around northern Italy, and Moss and Jenkinson never encountered any rain or other adverse conditions, which helped them to achieve the all-time record average speed for this race.
At the finish, fêted by the Italian fans and surrounded by their team, the Englishmen discovered just how successful they had been. They had won the Mille Miglia, and had left all records shattered in the wake of their victorious 300SLR. In second place came Fangio driving alone in the only other 300SLR to finish 32 minutes behind.
Despite its name, the 300SLR was not a racing version of the 300SL Gullwing. Instead, it was a sports car variant of the Mercedes W196 Grand Prix racer that ran in the 1954 and 1955 Formula 1 World Championships.
The 300SLR had a space-frame chassis and bodywork made from an ultra-light magnesium alloy called electron. Under the hood was the same fuel-injected straight-eight engine as the Formula 1 car, though bored and stroked from 2.5 liters to 3 liters and developing more than 310 hp at 7400 rpm, running on an exotic blend of gasoline, benzene, and alcohol.
The engine was laid over at a 33-degree angle to improve the aerodynamics, and it had a desmodromic valvetrain, which meant the valves were closed mechanically rather than by springs, eliminating valve float at high rpm.
Just nine 300SLRs were built; seven as open race cars. SLRs won not only the Mille Miglia, but also the Tourist Trophy in Ireland and the Targa Florio in Sicily to wrap up the 1955 World Sports Car Championship.
Disaster struck at Le Mans, however, when French driver Pierre Levegh collided with American Lance Macklin on pit straight, and his 300SLR was launched into the crowd. Levegh and 82 spectators died in racing's worst-ever crash.
02/01/2024 11:38 am
A fine model and it's great to also have both figures! A nice way to close out 2023 David, congratulations. 😎
David Green and Karl Schnelle reacted
02/01/2024 12:52 pm
David, nice addition to your collection. I have a couple of questions about the race. First, you mentioned Fangio was alone, when he finished the race. Did he solo the entire Mille Miglia? Second, was it more common for Mille Miglia race cars to have one or two occupants during the race?
Thanks for the historical information.
Ed Davis
Inverness, Illinois, USA
Topic starter
02/01/2024 1:38 pm
Hi Ed,
Yes, Fangio drove the entire race by himself as did most of the drivers of the faster cars, mainly for weight saving. A none driving passenger was permitted for navigation assistance with the top classes. Moss drove the entire way also. Some less powerful cars took 16 hours or more to complete the 1000 mile race. They were allowed two drivers to share that task but they had to be along for the entire trip. Cars started at 30 second or one minute intervals with the slower cars starting first. The number on the car told the starting order so 722 was very late start with lots of passing on narrow roads needed.
Fangio’s car while also a 300SLR had only one seat with the passenger area covered. Below, he is shown at the starting line, 24 earlier than Moss which meant Moss passed him before the finish.
Here is the smallest starter in that race.
02/01/2024 2:19 pm
Great posts, David. Thanks!
John Kuvakas
Warrenton, VA
Ted Weller and David Green reacted
02/01/2024 8:52 pm
Great model and posts, David. For Stirling Moss fans, a wonderful book published in 2005 by Porter Press International, "Stirling Moss Scrapbook -1955" chronicles every month of his racing that year including of course this fabulous effort. While the detail on the Spark model is likely better overall, here are a few shots of the Brumm mini-diorama from a few years ago - in their version, they show Jenkinson looking at the "roller map" that they created for this race, which Jenkinson communicated via hand signals to Moss. An epic racing event!
Topic starter
02/01/2024 11:16 pm
Hi Ted,
That is indeed a fine Brumm model. While I got several others in this diagrams series, I missed out on this one. That ‘roller map’ is a great feature and the model is well done.
Looks like I need to renew my search for the model and also the Porter book. Thank you for the reminder. Stirling Moss was my hero as a boy and I do have a significant collection of his models and books.
Karl Schnelle and Ed Davis reacted
06/01/2024 4:51 pm
I opted for the Spark model too David. And Spark also issued Fangio's 300SLR that won the GP of Sweden, fitted with the air brake used on the '55 Le Mans cars.
John Kuvakas and David Green reacted
Topic starter
06/01/2024 4:57 pm
A beauty Harv. I must add that one also.Love the air brake and the Fangio figure.
John Kuvakas reacted
