![]() Mercedes-Benz, too, had been experimenting with Wankel engines since 1962. At the time, many manufacturers were interested in Felix Wankel’s unconventional propulsion system. The first experimental car of 1969 was powered not by a reciprocating-piston engine but by a Wankel – or rotary – engine. From Wankel to DieselĪn exceptional feature of the C 111 was hidden under its skin. On the basis of the experience gained in testing this car, another five experimental cars were built. The suspension featured anti-squat and anti-dive control its front axle components were incorporated in large-scale production at a later stage and the rear axle was a precursor of today’s multi-link independent rear suspension. The newcomer set out on its first tests in Unterturkheim, on the Hockenheimring and the Nurburgring in April and May 1969. The three-rotor Wankel engine in the first C 111 of 1969 developed 206 kW/ 280 hp, giving the car a top speed of around 260 km/h. However, the research in testing Wankel engines, new suspension components and plastic bodywork components contributed to future Mercedes-Benz road cars. The coupes may have looked production worthy, but complex technologies embedded within in the cars kept them as experimental cars. Neither the C111-II or C 111 did not to appear in showrooms despite their lavish interior and cargo space. In the spring of 1970, an even more elegantly clad C 111-II made its appearance at the Geneva Motor Show, prompting interested parties to send blank checks to Stuttgart to secure one of these cars for themselves. This happened 35 years ago, at the C 111’s presentation in Frankfurt. Was this the worthy successor to the famous 300 SL Gullwing? The car’s style, dynamic lines and classic gullwing doors promised just that to lovers of refined cars with the three-pointed star on the hood. ![]() Motor show visitors crowded around the sports car, marveling at its intriguing design. The car broke new ground in terms of both engineering and design. C 111 was the designation of the futuristic study displayed by Mercedes-Benz in September 1969 at the Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA). The compact wedge in bright orange, a shade internally called weissherbst, expressed power, elegance and speed. ![]()
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