Mercedes-benz-300slr-stirling-moss-mille-miglia-#722
CMC Mercedes 300SLR
08/04/08 12:37
What a great shot! This photograph is of my father sitting in the Mercedes 300 SLR that was on tour of the US auto shows. Mercedes stored the car in the shop of a “friend of the factory” George Tilp. In 1955 Tilp was the owner/president of Adams Stampings, which was a subcontractor for the auto manufactures.
Based out of New Jersey Tilp had a racing team that ran two white Ferrari Monza’s that Phil Hill drove and a 300SL for Walter Hansgen. My grandfather was a tool and die maker that apprenticed at Peugeot in France. Although he technically worked for Adams Stampings he was often “loaned” to the race team.
Behind the 300SLR there is a Monza hood and what looks like a trunk lid. In the background against the wall you can see large cylindrical metal objects. These are brake drums for the 300SL. The story is that Hansgen had so little faith in the brakes of the 300SL lasting a full race distance that he made sure that he completely destroyed them during practice, shoes and drums! He wanted to be sure to have new ones for the race. Apparently brake drums were quite costly from the factory so Tilp had his own cast and machined by my grandfather and his fellow tool and die maker Joe Roeder. It seems as though there are dozens stacked like cordwood! My grandfather has long since passed away so details may be a bit sketchy. My grandfather worked making custom parts for my Lola T252 Formula Super Vee until he died. To watch him operate an engine lathe was impressive and I would marvel at the things he could do with it. He always said that a lathe was the only machine capable of reproducing itself! Which if you think about it he’s right. The advent of CAD/CAM technology assures us that we will never see as talented a machinist as a tool and die maker.
1955 Mercedes 300 SLR Mille Miglia #722 MossThe latest 1:18 scale release from CMC, it's the 1955 Mercedes 300 SLR as driven to victory at the Mille Miglia by Stirling Moss and co-pilot Denis Jenkinson. This is by far one of the most famous racing Mercedes Benz cars of all time. The duo would win in style, setting an all time record speed of 97.96 mph in the process. This latest creation is sure to be added to the long list of incredible miniatures produced by CMC. You will marvel at the level of detail and accuracy that goes into these stunning replicas. No detail has been left out, from the fully wired and plumbed engine, fully detailed interior with leather accents, authentic Mercedes Benz silver paint, and real wire wheels with soft rubber tires. Over 1,500 individual pieces are hand assembled to produce an exact replica of this historic race car. CMC produces some of the finest finished models available to the modern day collector. Sure to please even the most demanding collectors!