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In 1997, the three-year Korean automobile manufacturer Samsung Samsung Motors presented the concept of a very interestingly designed sports car SSC-1.In the ninth decade of the twentieth century, Korean carmakers began to expand significantly into world markets. However, they mainly went from making only Japanese or European licenses (Mazda, Mitsubishi, Opel) to making their own passenger car designs. Still, many of them still reminded their original designs (eg the Daewoo Nexia was still Opel Kadett E). And while in the mass passenger car market, the Koreans had already caught up so far, so they were boldly competing with Japanese and European manufacturers, still in the category of sports cars and not break through. Creations such as Hyundai Scoupe could hardly compete with cars such as Honda CRX, Mazda MX-3, Opel Calibra and VW Corrado. Since 1996, the Hyundai Coupe, the only Korean car with sporting ambitions, has been much better when the Porsche engineers were involved in the chassis, but it was still not the case. Kia was the first
The first impulse to develop the sporting concept of the Samsung SSC-1 came from the competing company Kia Motors. In 1996, the company bought a Lotus Elan M100 license that was produced by the British company from 1989 to 1992 and then in 1994. The Lotus design was slightly modified by Koreans, using their own engines, and a new Korean sportsman in the world. Although he was supposedly amazing, he still had front-wheel drive and engines across the front. At that time, even Samsung was considering buying Kia Motors, but the merger eventually met. It was Lee Kun-hee, Samsung's former boss, who decided to support the project of the first Korean-style, mid-engine and rear-wheel drive. However, Samsung has been very cautious about the matter, so only studies should be presented in the first phase. The new pure SSC-1 sports car was the star of the first-ever international car show in Seoul in 1997. Lights from 300 ZX!
The designation of the Samsung SSC-1 was "Samsung Sports Car -1". Obviously, the concept resembled the French Venturi Atlantique, which, of course, pointed out the earlier professional press. Still, we have to appreciate the work of the creators, as the Samsung SSC-1 is still a nice car, even with the design of the 1990s. The front-mounted headlamps were supposedly taken over by the Nissan 300 ZX Z32 from 1989. Thanks to this, they went round without headlamps, which were slowly but surely receding in the second half of the 1990s, especially for safety reasons. The car body relied on composite cover panels. The Venturi Atlantique has also been similar to the Venturi Atlantique, in particular its drive. In this case, the 2.5 V6 engine was also produced by Nissan. This engine was powered by the first Samsung SM5 sedan. Even the French Venturi powered a six-cylinder, of course, but another, namely PRV (Peugeot Renault Volvo). The SSC-1 prototype received a five-speed manual gearbox, trapezoidal suspension of the front and rear wheels, and disc brakes from the Italian company Brembo, which engineers housed in 17-inch alloy wheels. The car cab was carried in the spirit of Anatomic seats from Recara, the steering wheel was supplied by Momo and the interior trim for Nissan, or more precisely Infiniti. The second named was infotainment "Multi AV".
How many have actually been created?
The SSC-1 has always been just a concept. The reasons were financial, but it was certainly the market for sports cars that began to fall in the second half of the 1990s. Interestingly, the original car presented in 1996 was silver and reportedly was in 2001 near the Samsung Transportation Museum. But there are photos of a yellow car made in 2002 and now a babo rade. Cars are therefore two, but internet sources state that SSC-1 was created in a single specimen. If nothing, the silver car is equipped with different wheels than yellow. Or is there just overpacking and disc replacement? Who knows...
 Bernie Bilski
berniebilski@cox.net
President of Z-Car Club of Northern Virginia 1995 Nissan 300ZX TwinTurbo in Cobalt Green
1997 Nissan 240SX SE in Ultra Red
2006 Nissan Frontier SE in Ultra Black
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