A look at the Mercedes-Benz C111 (video)
A new cool video that we came across from Jay Leno’s garage. Here Constantin von Kageneck from the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center takes Jay under the hood of his dream car, the rare Wankel-engined, ’70s supersports Mercedes-Benz C111.
The Mercedes-Benz C111 was a series of experimental automobiles produced by Mercedes-Benz in the 1960s and 1970s. The company was experimenting with new engine technologies, including Wankel engines, Diesel engines, and turbochargers, and used the basic C111 platform as a testbed. Other experimental features included multi-link rear suspension, gullwing doors and a luxurious interior with leather trim and air conditioning.
The first version of the C111 was completed in 1969. The car used a fiberglass body shell and with a mid-mounted three-rotor direct fuel injected Wankel engine (code named M950F). The next C111 appeared in 1970. It used a four-rotor engine producing 370 hp (275 kW). The car reportedly could reach a speed of 290 km/h (180 mph).
