Monday 10th January 2011

Ciento Once: The Texan Homage To Merc C111

US tuner re-imagines classic 1970s Mercedes show car

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If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then wedge-tastic Mercedes C111 concept from the 1970s can consider itself well and truly flattered.

Because this rather beefy - if not exactly curvy - piece of automotove loveliness is Texan tuner GWA's homage to the C111.

It's called the Ciento Once (Spanish fans will know this to mean 'one hundred and eleven' in, er, Spanish) and is a unique creation, commissioned by GWA's owner, Arturo Alonso.

But while the original show cars were either powered by a Wankel rotary diesel engine (or, in the case of the C111 thieves tried to nick while it was on its was to Mercedes-Benz world recently, empty air), the Ciento Once gets a rather more conventionally horny motor.

Mid-mounted in a tubular space frame chassis, the power plant is a M120 Mercedes V12 engine (like they use un the Zonda) with 408hp, which can be admired trough a glass on the rear deck. The engine is coupled to a 6-speed Cima H type transaxle.

The handmade aluminum body should help to keep the weight around 1400kg, while an electrically operated rear adjustable wing, a rear diffuser and front spoiler, and brakes from an S55 AMG should help keep everything under control.

The interior of the Ciento Once resembles the the 70s original, but with some updated features including carbon fibre seats covered in plaid, brushed aluminum pedals, dashboard accent, and illuminated door sills.

The Ciento Once won't be under-wheeled, either, with 265/35/19 rubber at the front and 295/30/20 tyres at the rear.

[tonym911]

Refreshingly clean styling - and a refreshingly undramatic power claim too. 9/10

[Jez200]

That is different! Not massively convinced by the front end.. doesn't look quite right to me. However the rest is fantastic!

[k-ink]

It is far too tall and bulky compared to the original.

[hamishg]

I think it looks great. To me the front is more Isdera Imperator (?) than C111 but looks like a fantastic overall package.

[CraigVmax]

how are they allowed to put the star on the front?

[k-ink]

I had a book from the late seventies to maybe early eighties with an image like this on the cover:





Does anyone know what that book was called?

[356Speedster]

Shades of DeLorean in there, to my eye too!

[KrissJ]

356Speedster said:

Shades of DeLorean in there, to my eye too!

I thought that as well.

The car looks very happy:



But with a botty like that, who could blame it:

[thejudderman]

Love it,very well executed.... apart from the aftermarket looking wheels.

[anonymous-user]

I'm sure I saw this car in Back to the Future....

[alexpa]

Looks brilliant!!

Reminds me abit of the isdera imperator's from the 80's, but this looks way better!

Merc, take note!

[soad]

Really like this!

[jains15]

Shades of Maserati Merak too which to my eyes is a very pretty car

[Richard A]

There were, broadly speaking, 3 versions of the C111. A 3-rotor wankel (petrol) version in 1969, followed by a similarly shaped 4-rotor wankel car in 1970. These two generations (of which a handful of each were built), were both quite attractive and would have made good bases for exotic production cars (although maybe with MB V8 engines). The GWA car seems to based on the 1970 car with open buttresses on the rear 3/4s and similar frontal treatment.

The third version of 1976 was quite different, this was the diesel car which was the subject of the theft attempt. This third version would not have made a practical road car.

I've always fancied both of the first two versions and vaguely entertained fantasies of trying to build a replica. GWA's take on the 1970 car is not bad, not bad at all.

[sootyrumble]

Simply stunning, and to think it was an owner of a tuning shop who managed to refrain from "Blinging" i love the rear 3/4 pillars.

[kevseymour]

Like it a lot.

Reminds me of the F355's rear end, which is a good thing.

[biggrim]

Stunning. Another to add to my dream garage.

[Cotty]

That looks fantastic

[jamespink]

k-ink said:

I had a book from the late seventies to maybe early eighties with an image like this on the cover:





Does anyone know what that book was called?

Looking at this photograph of an original makes it clear how low drag it must have been. Actually makes the remake less convincing!

[rob.e]

That is very, very nice.

Top marks for not copying but creating something new, but clearly influenced by the Mercedes concept.