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Three-quarter view - Mercedes-Benz C 111 in (historical) test

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Created on October 1, 1969

Text:

José Rosinski

Photos:

Daimler AG

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Archiv Daimler AG

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Archiv

13

Daimler AG

13

Archiv Daimler AG

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Archiv

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Mercedes-Benz C 111 - Silver Arrow with swallow wings

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Mercedes-Benz C 111 - front view

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Mercedes-Benz C 111 - front view

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Mercedes-Benz C 111 - side view, right, gullwing doors

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Mercedes-Benz C 111 - front view and comparison with previous year's model

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Mercedes-Benz C 111 - Functional design of the dashboard

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Mercedes Benz C 111 (1969) - Transparency drawing of the type C111/1

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Mercedes-Benz C 111 (1970) - How the Wankel engine works

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Mercedes-Benz C 111 (1970) - Diagram of the wheel guide

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Mercedes Benz C 111 (1969) - together with the prototype and the C111-II from 1970

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Mercedes Benz C 111 (1969) - the car is optimized in the wind tunnel before its presentation at the IAA

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Mercedes Benz C 111 (1969) - on the driveway in Untertürkheim

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Mercedes-Benz C 111 - Mercedes on the racetrack

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Mercedes Benz C 111 (1969) - Test drives on the Hockenheimring

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Mercedes-Benz C 111 - The face of the Daimler-Benz test car with three-disc Wankel engine

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Mercedes Benz C 111 (1969) - Test drives with the three-disc Wankel engine at the Hockenheimring

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Mercedes Benz C 111 (1969) - Test drives on the Hockenheimring

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Mercedes Benz C 111 (1969) - C111/I with three-disc Wankel engine and around 250 hp

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Mercedes Benz C 111 (1969) - Type I three-disc inverter engine

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Mercedes C111 (1969) - the Wankel engine - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1969

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Mercedes Benz C 111 (1969) - Cockpit of the first version as presented at the IAA Frankfurt 1969

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Mercedes-Benz C 111 - 1st version, Frankfurt

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Mercedes C111 (1969) - the Wankel Coupé with gullwing doors - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1969

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Mercedes-Benz C111/I (1969) - Presentation of the Mercedes-Benz C 111 with 3-disc Wankel engine at the IAA - IAA 1969

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Mercedes Benz 250 (1968) - on the driveway in Untertürkheim together with the C111 Wankel, the 300 SEL 3.5-liter and the 300 SEL 6.3-liter

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Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 liter Cabriolet (1969) - together with the C111-I, the 300 SEL 3.5 sedan and the 280 SE 3.5 liter coupé on the driveway in Untertürkheim

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Mercedes Benz C 111 (1969) - Version 1 can be recognized by the trapezoidal auxiliary headlights

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Summary

It seems a bit like a story from another world; a world in which the Mercedes-Benz C 111 would have gone into series production. In fact, the spectacular plastic gullwing was subjected to a test at the Hockenheimring. This concluded that the test vehicle was surprisingly mature. Only the Wankel engine appeared to be only three-quarters complete, as it lacked the fourth disk for adequate power.

This article contains the following chapters

Steel shell
At the wheel
On the race track

Estimated reading time: 12min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Finally, the Daimler-Benz development office has lifted the secret about the C 111 by officially unveiling it: all the rumors have been put to rest. Nevertheless, it is not known exactly why it was actually presented to the international press (which we personally do not want to complain about). Many speculations were made about the C 111. Some thought that it would be the new warhorse for Mercedes, with which they would make a spectacular entry into the international racing scene to celebrate a triumphant return. Our firm opinion, however, is that the C 111 in its current state is not a true, modern racing sports car. The car is too heavy and too bulky. It would not even stand a chance against the Ford GT 40, whose design is now outdated. Although it is a very successful design, it is also likely to have a difficult time in the market for exclusive cars, where it is up against illustrious exotics such as the Ghibli, Miura, Mangusta and others.

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