Today, we’re somewhat attuned to the idea of Mercedes-Benz making wildly-styled sports cars. But back in 1970, when the automaker put together the wildly unconventional C111 concept, it was a crazy departure for the slightly stuffy sedan maker. And a teenage Jay Leno always dreamed of driving one on loan from the Mercedes Classics Center.
Now, grown-up Leno‘s position as the world’s most enviable gearhead means he can finally drive the Mercedes-Benz C111. And on Jay Leno’s Garage, he does just that.
First unveiled in 1969, the C111 concept featured an in-vogue wedge shape and gullwing doors. This is an original 1970 model put together as an experiment by Mercedes. It was originally designed with a three-rotor Wankel engine; later variants had four-rotor engines, an evolutionary dead-end that Mercedes stopped pursuing during the oil crisis.
Today, of the thirteen C111s Mercedes produced across two generations, this is the only running, driving example—now powered by a 3.5-liter V8. Leno gets the full history about Mercedes’ original plans for the C111 project, but the real highlight is driving in this vintage concept.
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