Mercedes-Benz C-111

==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	 	75px
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 	75px
1973	Mainline 	Enamel Flourescent Light Green 	 	Unpainted/Metal	Tinted (Blue)	White or Gray 	RL 	6978 	Hong Kong	Capped or Open Rear Wheels 	75px
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 	75px
1974	Flying Colors 	Red 	White, Blue & Yellow Stripes and Stars 	Unpainted/Metal	Tinted (Blue)	Black 	RL 	6978 	Hong Kong	 	75px
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	 	
==Gallery==
Mercedes-Benz C-111 Proto.JPG|Grid Prototype
Mercedes-Benz C-111 Proto 2.gif|Black Steerable Prototype
HW C-111's (4).JPG|A group of 1972 Spectraflame C111's
73 light blue enamel Mercedes benz c111.jpg|1973 Blue
HW C-111's (6).JPG|Spectraflame versions with some 'Flying Colors'
1974 Mercedes-benz c-111 grey int blue tint window capped rear - door open.JPG|Gray Interior with 'Capped' Rear wheels version with the door open
Mercededsbenzc111-74 cat.jpg|Picture from the 1974 Mattel Catalog
74 Mercedesbenz plastic chrome top.JPG|Hard to Find Chrome Plastic Base version
1974 Mercedesbenzc111 chrome plastic base-base view.JPG|Chrome Plastic Base
Mercedes-Benz C-111 drilled base 1.JPG|1974 Version with Black Interior disassembled to show the parts
Mercedes C111 RedPltcRL.JPG|Black Plastic Base with Redlines
Mercedes benz c111 red black plastic base BW.JPG|Black Plastic Base with Blackwalls
Mercedes-.JPG|Black Plastic Base with Blackwalls
100 8112.jpg|1974 Version with White interior and Capped Rear wheels
100 8114.jpg|Base detail of a 1974 Version with White interior and Capped Rear wheels
P1010003 (5).JPG|The redline C-111 rainbow of color
P1010002 (5).JPG|The HW C-111's
C111.jpg
File:1973 Mercedes-Benz C-111 Enamel Blue Versions.jpg|C-111 Enamel Blue Versions, Dark Blue with Brown Interior
Patch Card Speedway Specials Mercedes C111 Red Hong Kong 6978.jpg|Speedway Specials 1978
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