Did this C111 protype ever touch tarmac?

• 

Everyone is familiar with the Mercedes-Benz C111, yes?  Not so fast.  Most of you will immediately conjure up the orange, wedge-shaped 1970 C111-II used to set records to bring attention to Mercedes-Benz’ development of the Wankel rotary engine.   But the first version of the C111, the 1969 C-111 Designstudie, is seldom seen.  That C-111-I looked a bit like a Daytona nosed, rear-engined Corvette with Porsche 904 lines in the windshield and doors.  The C111 Designstudie was also powered by a fuel injected three-rotor Wankel engine providing 280 PS / 276 hp at 7,000 rpm, with rear-wheel drive and a 5-speed ZF gearbox.  With a drag coefficient of just 0.35, Mercedes-Benz claimed a top speed of 162 mph. We wonder if this prototype was ever as fast as that. And did it ever leave the design center to play outside? Please let us know if you ever saw a photo or video of this C111 'designstudie' on road or track. ( text and photo Leigh Dorrington)

Kommentar abgeben...