Equipment
RHD. Owned by George Milligen since June 1941, unrestored but regularly used and carefully maintained. Cycle fenders, outside exhaust, White steering wheel, dual rear spares, folding windshield, silver painted wire wheels. Engine was originally 77631, this block and crankcase believed from a 38 250 SS Milligen bought for spares and used in an early 50s rebuild. Known history from new. Well used but also sound and usable. Restoration would be desecration. George E. Milligen Collection
Market commentary
SSK replicas abound, as well as mysterious cars resurrected from various South American junkyards, but real ones with documented histories are locked away in collections. This SSK is two and one quarter times the price of the Rolf Meyer SSK brought just over a year ago at Poulains Paris auction ($3,280,962), the difference being clear history and originality. This is a King of the Road. The purchase money is only the first of many checks that will be written before it will be safe to floor the throttle and hear the scream of 36045s blower. This transaction is the top auction sale in the last 14 years, since the Bugatti Royale 41141 Kellner Coupe at Royal Albert Hall in 1989 (UKPounds 5,500,000 or $9,764,585 in 1989, $9,838,400 at todays exchange rate. Todays SSK price is UKPounds 4,181,500, 76% of the Royales 1989 price in UKPounds. Everythings relative.)