Description[]
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 'Gull-Wing' doors and a luxurious interior with leather trim and air conditioning.
The Hot Wheels version featured opening 'Gull-Wing' doors and is based on the 1970 C111-II version which featured the four-rotor engine which could take the car from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds and had a top speed of 300 km/h.
It debuted in the 1972 Hot Wheels range of vehicles and was painted in various 'Spectraflame' colors. Due to shade differences in the Spectraflame painting process, the existence of a Spectraflame Gold version receives skepticism by collectors as some believe it is merely a darker shade of the regular Spectraflame Yellow rather than a completely separate color.
1972 versions were manufactured in Hong Kong and had 'Capped' Redline wheels, blue glass, a black painted base and either a white or gray interior. It was commonly packaged on a Drivin' Gear card without a Collector's Button, but cars sold in Canada were packaged with a Collector's Button known as the 'Mag Wheel Button' as instead of having a picture of the car, it instead had a picture of a mag wheel similar to the 'Rally Case'.
It was released in 1973 and was painted in several 'Enamel' colors. It came with 'Open Axle' wheels on the front and either Capped or Open Axle wheels on the rear. It came with blue glass and either a white or gray interior.
In 1974, it was released in red with a 'Stars & Stripes' tampo scheme which remained in production until 1978, these versions featured several interior, wheel and tampo variations, some of which are very hard to find. It was also released in Japan in a small red cardboard box 'Red Box 26' and in Italy also in a cardboard box as 'Mebetoys Flying Colors'.
The Mercedes-Benz C111 has not been produced since 1978.
Versions[]
The Mercedes-Benz C-111 has come out in the following versions:
Year | Series | Color | Tampo | Base Color / Type |
Window Color | Interior Color | Wheel Type | Toy # | Country | Notes | Photo |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1972 | Mainline | Spectraflame Blue | Black / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | White or Gray | RL | 6169 | Hong Kong | |||
1972 | Mainline | Spectraflame Aqua | Black / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | White or Gray | RL | 6169 | Hong Kong | |||
1972 | Mainline | Spectraflame Light 'Apple' Green | Black / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | White or Gray | RL | 6169 | Hong Kong | |||
1972 | Mainline | Spectraflame Yellow | Black / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | White or Gray | RL | 6169 | Hong Kong | |||
1972 | Mainline | Spectraflame Gold | Black / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | White or Gray or Brown | RL | 6169 | Hong Kong | |||
1972 | Mainline | Spectraflame Red | Black / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | White or Gray | RL | 6169 | Hong Kong | |||
1972 | Mainline | Spectraflame Rose | Black / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | White or Gray | RL | 6169 | Hong Kong | |||
1972 | Mainline | Spectraflame Magenta | Black / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | White or Gray | RL | 6169 | Hong Kong | |||
1973 | Mainline | Enamel Dark Blue | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | White or Gray or Brown | RL | 6978 | Hong Kong | Capped or Open Rear Wheels | ||
1973 | Mainline | Enamel Blue | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | White or Gray | RL | 6978 | Hong Kong | Capped or Open Rear Wheels | ||
1973 | Mainline | Enamel Light Blue | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | White or Gray | RL | 6978 | Hong Kong | Capped or Open Rear Wheels | ||
1973 | Mainline | Enamel Flourescent Light Green | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | White or Gray | RL | 6978 | Hong Kong | Capped or Open Rear Wheels | ||
1973 | Mainline | Enamel Light 'Lemon' Yellow | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | White or Gray | RL | 6978 | Hong Kong | Capped or Open Rear Wheels | ||
1973 | Mainline | Enamel Flourescent Pink | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | White or Gray | RL | 6978 | Hong Kong | Capped or Open Rear Wheels | ||
1973 | Mainline | Enamel Red | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | White or Brown | RL | 6978 | Hong Kong | Capped Rear Wheels | ||
1973 | Mainline | Enamel Red | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | White or Gray | RL | 6978 | Hong Kong | Open Rear Wheels | ||
1974 | Flying Colors | Red | White, Blue & Yellow Stripes and Stars | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | Gray | RL (Capped Rear) | 6978 | Hong Kong | Hard to Find | |
1974 | Flying Colors | Red | White, Blue & Yellow Stripes and Stars | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | White | RL (Capped Rear) | 6978 | Hong Kong | Hard to Find | |
1974 | Flying Colors | Red | White, Blue & Yellow Stripes and Stars | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | Black | RL (Capped Rear) | 6978 | Hong Kong | Hard to Find | |
1974 | Flying Colors | Red | White, Blue & Yellow Stripes and Stars | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | Black | RL | 6978 | Hong Kong | ||
1974 | Flying Colors | Red | White, Blue & Yellow Stripes and Stars, White 'C111' on trunk | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | Black | RL | 6978 | Hong Kong | Very Rare | |
1975 | Flying Colors | Red | White, Blue & Yellow Stripes and Stars | Chrome / Plastic |
Tinted (Blue) | Black | RL | 6978 | Hong Kong | Hard to Find | |
1976 | Flying Colors | Red | White, Blue & Yellow Stripes and Stars | Black / Plastic |
Tinted (Blue) | Black | RL | 6978 | Hong Kong | ||
1976 | Flying Colors | Red | White, Blue & Yellow Stripes and Stars | Chrome / Plastic |
Tinted (Blue) | Black | RL | 6978 | Hong Kong | ||
1977 | Flying Colors | Red | White, Blue & Yellow Stripes and Stars, White 'C111' on trunk | Black / Plastic |
Tinted (Blue) | Black | BW | 6978 | Hong Kong | Also released in Japan Red Box and Italian Mebetoys Box | |
1978 | Speedway Specials | Red | White, Blue & Yellow Stripes and Stars, White 'C111' on trunk | Black / Plastic |
Tinted (Blue) | Black | BW | 6978 | Hong Kong |