Mercedes-Benz C 111
The C 111 series consisted of prototypes and experimental vehicles in the 1960s and 1970s. Mercedes -Benz experimented with new motors and plastic bodies.
The C 111 platform was used as a testbed for experiments with Wankel engines, diesel engines and turbochargers. In addition, the company equipped the sports car from experimentally with double doors, retractable headlights and a luxurious leather interior and air conditioning.
- 2.1 Records with the C 111- 2 diesel
- 2.2 Records with the C 111- 3 diesel
- 2.3 whereabouts of the C - 111 testbed
Models
Type Version I
The first C 111 was completed in 1969. He had a body made of glass fiber reinforced plastic and a dreirotorigen injection rotary engine as a mid-engine. For months, had clandestine photos of Erlkönigen in relevant journals such as Auto Motor und Sport reports of the secret development of a super sports car at Daimler- Benz AG and speculates about its performance. The introduction of the first C 111, with a body more like a stopgap possible, as a design model, as was expected from the then perfectionist Swabian car manufacturer, sparked speculation on an unprecedented scale. Shortly after the release of photos showing a mid-engine car with the legendary reminiscent of the 300 SL gull-wing doors, met in Untertürkheim the first few orders, which even signed blank checks were settled. But the lack of quality of workmanship - the plastic panels were made from an external wagon factory - and the lack of stability of the three- disc motor were from the beginning of series production in the way.
Type II version
The now well-known in the public C 111- II was introduced in 1970 at the IAA. The body was totally reworked to reduce lift on the front axle. While contemporary racing cars like the Porsche 917-10 or Lola T70 not getting along on the track without spoilers and wings, the Daimler -Benz AG boasted, to achieve the required output values simply because intelligent design. The C 111-II had a vierrotorigen Wankel engine with an output of 350 PS and 275 kW. He reached a top speed of 290 km / h
Mercedes -Benz decided to due to problems with the stability and lifetime due to the described quality defects in manufacturing for a mass production. It was decided, 111 only internally to use the C as a test bed and experimented next with diesel engines. The main reason for this was the 1973 oil crisis. Therefore, the C 111 - II was measured with a five-cylinder turbo diesel engine (Mercedes- Benz OM 617) (190 hp ) with a displacement of 3 liters equipped with a power of 140 kW. The so upgraded wagons had the serial number 31, he broke on 12 June 1976, all speed and acceleration records for diesel engines.
The C 111-II broke on the high-speed track in Nardo in southern Italy (see table) 16 records, of which 13 are for diesel vehicles, for example, a continuous run over 10,000 miles with an average speed of 252 km / h has been completed.
Type III version
A further revised version of the C 111 reached 1978 in Nardo the 320-km/h-Marke and posted there during a twelve hour drive, an average speed of 316 km / h Through a significant aerodynamic revision of the body of the C 111- III achieved a drag coefficient of 0.183.
The performance of the five-cylinder turbo diesel engine was increased at the expense of life on. So you had the valve seat angle performed extremely sharp to reduce the flow resistance and maximize performance. We decided not to boost control and put the turbocharger to get maximum performance from.
Type IV version
Had the aerodynamically optimized version of C 111- IV a supercharged twin turbocharged V8 gasoline engine ( M117 ) with 90 ° cylinder arrangement, 4,820 cc engine, 368 kW ( 500 hp) and 599 Nm of torque and a compression ratio of 6:1.
This car scored 1979 more records on May 5. So he reached on the track in the Italian Nardo then-record speed for circular routes of 403.978 km / h
World Records
On the Italian high-speed test track Nardo following records were set:
Records with the C 111- 2 diesel
Records with the C 111- 3 diesel
Whereabouts of the C - 111 testbed
A similar model was presented in 1991 C 112, which also never went into production.