Mercedes-Benz C111 concept (1969)
Concept car · 1969 · Combustion
Gullwing Wankel testbed that later shattered diesel records.
The Mercedes-Benz C111 was an experimental gullwing testbed first shown in 1969 with a three-rotor Wankel engine producing about 280 hp and a top speed near 260 km/h. Daimler abandoned the Wankel by 1971 over emissions, but reused the fiberglass-bodied platform for later record cars, including a turbo-diesel C111 that reached 338 km/h at Nardo in 1978 and a turbocharged version averaging over 403 km/h in 1979.
Key facts
- Engine (1969): Three-rotor Wankel, 1800 cc, ~280 hp
- Doors: Gull-wing; fiberglass body
- Top speed: ~260 km/h (Wankel version)
- Records: Diesel/turbo record runs at Nardo (338+ km/h)
- Status: Multiple versions preserved by Mercedes-Benz
Production
- Status: Concept only
- A 1969 rotary-engined experimental/research car that was famously never put into production despite public demand.
- Revealed at 1969 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show
Photos
Source: Wikipedia