03.02.2020Toy fair Nuremberg: 25 years CMC Classic Modelcars

Classic  Model Cars - better known under the brand CMC - has conquered the world of collectors and lovers of classic automobiles with high quality precision models and celebrates its 25th anniversary this year 2020. It all started with a trade for automobiles in Stuttgart. Herbert Nickerl and Shuxiao Jia lead the business together since 1985 and expand the program to include a wholesale division: They become the general importer of two brands that manufacture modelcars in China. An ideal team: Nickerl - an engineer by profession - brought the enthusiasm for classic automobiles with him, his partner came to Germany as part of a posting program of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. For the 25th anniversary of CMC Classic Model Cars, there are two models in particular that are attracting attention at the current toy fair.

The CMC "Black Prince", the first model of the brand from 1995, at that time in scale 1:24, was added to the range as an anniversary model. In 2020, however, it will appear in the usual scale 1:18 (item number M-225) and will be assembled from more than 1,000 components. From the CMC Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman, whose model symbolizes the automotive perfection of the 1960s and 1970s, other attractive model variants are being delivered, including the Landaulet version with textile roof, which is eagerly awaited by the collectors. The CMC Pullman models also consist of well over 1,200 individual parts. A hand-gilded CMC Ferrari complements the anniversary program in a strictly limited edition of just 500: the CMC Ferrari 275 GTB/C, modeled on a racing car from 1966, has a die-cast zinc body covered with 14-carat gold leaf.

Then the modelcar, available under item number M-222, becomes sealed with clear lacquer. The anniversary book "CMC Model Cars 25 Years" contains the complete company history, lots of background information and offers a richly illustrated overview of all CMC models. It will be delivered to interested collectors from February 2020 and will fill 148 pages with German, English and Chinese , By the way: Immediately after the debut, the CMC miniature "Black Prince" was voted "Model of the Year 1995" by a specialist magazine - the young company could not have had a better start. With the following lines we want to present a few highlights from the program expected for 2020, from which some models are already sold out at the factory, but still come to the collector through specialist dealers.

The Mercedes-Benz supercharged sports car, initially developed under the leadership of Ferdinand Porsche, was launched in 1926 by a touring car with increased engine output and a shorter wheelbase, which is referred to as the Model K. The additional designation does not stand for the compressor, but for "short" because of the shortened design for racing. It was followed by the Type S (Sport) in 1927 and the SS (Super Sport) in 1928. In mid-1928, the engineers at Mercedes-Benz shortened the type S chassis to a wheelbase of 2950 millimeters and equipped the chassis with the new 7.1-liter compressor type SS. This is how the SSK (Super Sport-Kurz) is created, whose unit with the switched compressor initially mobilized 147 kW / 200 hp. Rudolf Caracciola thus wins several important mountain races in the 1928 season.

The factory thus decided to produce a small series of the SSK, which was initially only planned as a factory racing car: from October 1928 it was included in the official sales program. By 1929, the output had been increased to 183 kW / 250 hp; the factory team's touring cars delivered up to 22 kW / 300 hp with a larger compressor. A total of less than 30 customer SSK are produced, it is one of the most exclusive Mercedes-Benz of all time. The SSK shares this exclusivity with the SSKL (Super Sport Short Light), which was created in 1931 in preparation for the Mille Miglia long-distance race. Unlike the SSK, the SSKL is never part of the sales program; it is only available to the Mercedes-Benz factory team. To this we will see three modelcars from CMC: Mille Miglia 1931 (M-055), German GP 1931 Stuck (M-188) and Merz (M-189).

Attentive readers of our blog know about our emphasis on the large scale 1:12, in which more and more providers offer extremely carefully crafted miniatures. CMC will also be presenting two new products in this format in 2020: the Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B Speciale Touring Coupé from 1938 with an edition of 300 units comes under item number C-009; under the C-010, the Horch 853 1937 in red and black two-tone paintwork is more likely to appeal to Audi fans. All those of you who know and appreciate the level of detail of the models, which are mostly made from original materials, will be enthusiastic about it. We would like to say congratulations CMC on your birthday and wish you another successful 25 years!

Here: Click to the current modelcars from CMC