Rare Car Archive

Makes › Isdera Germany › CW 311 · Factory competition · 1972–1978

Isdera
CW 311

Mid-engined gull-wing Mercedes-Benz study built privately by Eberhard Schulz, 1972-1978

Still being researched: identification guide. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.

IDENTIFICATION CARD · ISDERA CW 311 1972–1978
No licensed photograph yet. Photographs are published only when their licence permits it.
?ProductionNot yet verified
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
Not yet verified
Years
1972–1978
Engine
V8, 90 degrees · 6,834 cc / 6.8 LFactory: 6,834 cc
Power
276 kW / 375 PSFactory: 375 PS
Top speed
319 km/hFactory: 319 km/h
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Eberhard Schulz
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The CW 311 is a mid-engined, gull-winged Mercedes-Benz study built outside the factory by Porsche engineer Eberhard Schulz. A 1979 quote on the Isdera site calls it the first and only Mercedes study created outside the works that was officially allowed to carry the star.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityNot yet assessed Production figure not yet verified.
Specification rarityNot yet assessed
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

No production figures recorded yet.

History

Schulz worked on it privately in the evenings and nights while employed at Porsche, for five years, drawing, calculating, building and financing it himself. He took a mid-engine layout, gull-wing doors, side exhausts in the 300 SLR style, and the engine of the Mercedes 600. The car starred in the 1980 UFA film Car-Napping. Niki Lauda drove it in test runs at the Salzburgring in June 1979 for Automobil Revue.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard CW 311.

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeNot yet verified
LayoutV8, 90 degrees1
Displacement 6,834 cc / 6.8 LFactory: 6,834 cc1
BoreNot yet verified
StrokeNot yet verified
Compression ratioNot yet verified
Fuel systemNot yet verified
Power 276 kW / 375 PSFactory: 375 PS1
Power at 5,200 rpm1
Torque 565 Nm / 57.6 kgmFactory: 57.6 kgm1

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxNot yet verified
Gears51
Driven wheelsNot yet verified

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisNot yet verified
Front suspensionNot yet verified
Rear suspensionNot yet verified
BrakesNot yet verified
SteeringNot yet verified
Body constructionNot yet verified
Wheelbase 2,400 mmFactory: 2,400 mm1
Length 4,100 mmFactory: 4,100 mm1
Width 1,280 mmFactory: 1,280 mm1
Height 1,110 mmFactory: 1,110 mm1
Front trackNot yet verified
Rear trackNot yet verified
Kerb weight 1,250 kgFactory: 1,250 kg1
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed 319 km/hFactory: 319 km/h1Figure as listed by the maker in a comparison table
0–100 km/h 4.8 s1
Fuel tank 120 LFactory: 120 L1

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    Isdera CW 311 technical comparison (archived 2007) Level A isdera.de
    • Motorkonstr. V 8 90
    • Hubraum ccm 6834
    • Leistung PS 375 bei Drehz. 5200
    • Drehm. mkg 57,6 bei 3000
    • Getriebe 5-Gang
    • Radabstand mm 2400
    • Länge mm 4100
    • Breite mm 1280
    • Höhe mm 1110
    • Leergewicht kg 1250
    • Höchstgeschwindigkeit 319 km/h
    • 0-100 km/h 4,8
    • Tank ltr. 120
    Accessed 2026-11-13

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