First unveiled in 1969, the C111 concept featured an in-vogue wedge shape, gullwing doors, and a mid-mounted three-rotor engine, and it seemed like the supercar of the future. This C111-II went even further in 1970 with tweaked styling and a four-rotor powerplant behind the driver. A V8 eventually replaced the experimental mill, but that switch is also part of the reason this one is still on the road today.
There was a powerful diesel engine under the bonnet of a spectacularly styled gull-wing model, painted in bright orange, Mercedes-Benz was soon geared up for some record-breaking drives. The C 111-II D powered its way to some sensational records at the Nardo circuit in southern Italy in 1976. For a whole hour, for example, it circled the high-speed track at an average speed of 253.770 km/h. It went on to collect further records in all categories – over distances of 10 to 10,000 kilometers and over periods of 6 to 24 hours.
Car enthusiast, collector and TV presenter Jay Leno gets the full history about Mercedes’ original plans for the C111 project, but obviously the real highlight is the rare drive in this vintage 46 year old concept.
