1932 Mercedes SSK Trossi 'Black Prince'

Product no.: M-225

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The mystery of the Mercedes Benz SSK “Count Trossi”

 

The story of the extraordinary Mercedes Benz SSK “Count Trossi” is as special as it is mysterious. Among the forty-two SSKs (short for Super Sport Kurz or Short) built, chassis 36038 is the surely the world’s rarest and most distinctive example.

 

It was shipped to Japan as a bare chassis in February 1930 but returned to the factory as they were unable to sell it. It was then delivered to the Mercedes-Benz dealer in Milan, Carlo Saporiti. According to research carried out by the American Restorer Paul Russell and his team, who restored this car and reconstructed its entire history, the car was first sold to Sr. Antonio Maino with a two-seater spyder body built for the chassis by Carrozzeria Touring in Milan. From December 1930 to 1933, chassis 36038 raced at several events, including the Mille Miglia. It was finally bought by Count Felice Trossi in June 1933, who decided to build his own special body for this car.

 

The person who actually designed this car remains a mystery to this day. Russell unearthed two hand-made sketches of the vehicle during his research: one from an independent coachbuilder, who could be Willy White, an American living in Italy at the time, and the Count’s personal sketches of an open roadster without a top. In any case, the body was commissioned in 1933 and the car as it is today was completed in 1934.

 

This car has been part of the Ralph Lauren collection since the 1980s.

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