Filed under: Concept Cars, Government/Legal, Mercedes-Benz, UK


A rare 1970s-era Mercedes-Benz C111 show car has gone on display at the company's museum at Brooklands, but it almost didn't make it.

According to reports from across The Pond, the truck transporting the vintage concept car from Germany to the UK was hijacked by criminals looking to make off with the C111. The attempt was thwarted, but though now repaired, significant damage was reportedly incurred to one of the showcar's gullwing doors and to the front fender.

The C111 served as a rolling test bed for Mercedes during the 1960s and 70s, various versions having been outfitted with different engines - including turbos, diesels and even Wankels - securing a number of land speed records along the way. The example transported to Brooklands, however, is but an empty shell with no engine, leaving observers to wonder just where the seemingly none-too-bright thieves thought they were going with the car.


Gallery: 1977 Mercedes-Benz C111-III



[Source: PistonHeads]Rare Mercedes-Benz C111 prototype reportedly damaged in highway robbery attempt originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 May 2010 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

More...
Autoblog
05-14-2010 11:29 AM

I saw this car in KC when MB put it on tour. The styling was startling in those days.

At that time, the dealer was little more than a store front. Things have changed. [/understatement of year]

__________________
62 220sb
67 250S
72 280SE 4.5
74 280C
77 300D
82 240D
85 190E 2.3
86 300E RIP 12/28/09
85 300SD
92 300D 2.5
00 E320 Current
Over 1,000,000 miles in Benzes, Since66

....and a whole passel of BMW 2002 and Tii