Rare Car Archive

Makes › Isdera Germany › Imperator 108i · Specialist manufacturer · 1983–1991 Ultra Rare

Isdera
Imperator 108i

gullwing mid-engined Mercedes-V8 car by Isdera (Eberhard Schulz, Leonberg) – not a tuner

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

Isdera Imperator 108i (Wikimedia Commons: Isdera Imperator 108i)
Isdera Imperator 108i (Wikimedia Commons: Isdera Imperator 108i)
Photo: Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0
30BuiltIndependently researched
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
30 Built
Years
1983–1991
Engine
Mid-mounted longitudinal 90 degree V8 · 5,547 cc / 5.5 LFactory: 5,547 cc
Power
220 kW / 299 PSFactory: 295 hp · converted
Top speed
283 km/hFactory: 176 mph · converted
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 Imperator 108i was a low-volume German supercar that grew out of Mercedes-Benz's CW311 concept. Its maker Isdera built it with Mercedes V8 engines, a tubular space frame, gull-wing doors, a fibreglass body and a periscope rear-view mirror. In a 1987 comparison at Volkswagen's Ehra-Lessien track a 6.0-litre car reached 176 mph.

How rare is it?

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

Model rarityUltra Rare 30 · Built1
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.

Photos

Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Total model productionupper bound: 'fewer than 30' built; highest chassis no. c.030, final car completed 2008 301 Factory production Independently researched

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

Eberhard Schulz, a former Porsche and Mercedes engineer, developed the CW311 with Rainer Buchmann from 1972. After the partnership ended in 1979, Schulz founded Isdera in 1981 and launched the Imperator at the Geneva show in 1984 with a Mercedes M117 5.0-litre V8. Later cars used larger and AMG-tuned V8s and, in the second series, M119 engines, all with ZF five-speed manual gearboxes.

The sources disagree on production. Ultimatecarpage lists 17 built, Road & Track says 30, and Car and Driver quotes a seller stating only 13 of the later Series 2 cars were made. Isdera went out of business in 1993.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard Imperator 108i.

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

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyMercedes-Benz M1172 Independently researched
Engine codeNot yet verified
LayoutMid-mounted longitudinal 90 degree V82 Independently researched
Cylinders82 Independently researched
Displacement 5,547 cc / 5.5 LFactory: 5,547 cc2 Independently researchedSpec of the M117 E56 car. Other cars used a 5.0 litre, a 6.0 litre (tested by R&T) and later M119 engines.
Bore 96.5 mmFactory: 96.5 mm2 Independently researched
Stroke 94.8 mmFactory: 94.8 mm2 Independently researched
Compression ratio10.0:12 Independently researched
ValvetrainSOHC, 2 valves per cylinder, chain driven2 Independently researched
Fuel systemFuel injection2 Independently researched
InductionNaturally aspirated2 Independently researched
Power 220 kW / 299 PSFactory: 295 hp · converted2 Independently researchedStated as bhp. Car and Driver gives 235 hp for the 5.0 M117 and R&T up to 420 hp for AMG-tuned cars.
Power at 5,000 rpm2 Independently researched
Torque 455 NmFactory: 455 Nm2 Independently researched
Torque at 3,750 rpm2 Independently researched
Redline 5,500 rpm2 Independently researched

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxZF five-speed manual2,3 Independently researched
Gears52 Independently researched
Driven wheelsRear2 Independently researched

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisSteel tubular spaceframe2 Independently researched
Front suspensionDouble wishbones, coil springs, tubular dampers, anti-roll bar2 Independently researched
Rear suspensionUpper and lower transverse links, coil springs, tubular dampers, anti-roll bar2 Independently researched
BrakesVentilated discs2 Independently researched
SteeringRack-and-pinion, power assisted2 Independently researched
Body constructionBonded fibreglass body2 Independently researched
Wheelbase 2,480 mmFactory: 2,480 mm2 Independently researched
Length 4,220 mmFactory: 4,220 mm2 Independently researched
Width 1,835 mmFactory: 1,835 mm2 Independently researched
Height 1,135 mmFactory: 1,135 mm2 Independently researched
Front track 1,481 mmFactory: 1,481 mm2 Independently researched
Rear track 1,407 mmFactory: 1,407 mm2 Independently researched
Kerb weight 1,250 kgFactory: 1,250 kg2 Independently researched
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed 283 km/hFactory: 176 mph · converted4 Independently researched6.0-litre car tested by Road & Track in 1987.
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
0–60 mph 5 s4 Independently researched6.0-litre car tested by Road & Track in 1987.
Fuel tank 95 LFactory: 95 L2 Independently researched

“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 Imperator 108i – Secret Classics Level C
    • 30 upper bound: 'fewer than 30' built; highest chassis no. c.030, final car completed 2008
    Accessed 2026-11-11
  2. 2
    1983 - 1991 Isdera Imperator 108i Specifications Level C Ultimatecarpage.com
    • Mercedes-Benz M117 E56
    • Mercedes-Benz M117 E56 90º V8; Mid, longitudinally mounted
    • see source
    • 5,547 cc / 338.5 cu in
    • 96.5 mm / 94.8 mm
    • Compression 10.0:1
    • 2 valves / cylinder, SOHC; chain driven
    • Fuel feed Fuel Injection
    • Aspiration Naturally Aspirated
    • 295 bhp / 220 kW @ 5,000 rpm
    • 455 Nm / 336 ft lbs @ 3,750 rpm
    • 455 Nm @ 3,750 rpm
    • Red Line 5,500 rpm
    • ZF 5 speed Manual
    • Drive Rear wheel drive
    • Chassis steel tubular spaceframe
    • double wishbones, coil springs over tubular shock absorbers
    • upper and lower transverse links, coil springs
    • ventilated discs
    • rack-and-pinion, power assisted
    • Body bonded fibreglass body
    • 2,480 mm (97.6 in)
    • 4,220 mm / 1,835 mm / 1,135 mm
    • 1,481 mm / 1,407 mm
    • Weight 1,250 kilo / 2,756 lbs
    • Fuel tank 95 Litre
    Accessed 2026-11-13
  3. 3
    The Isdera Imperator 108i Is a Mercedes-Benz Wedge From the Future Level C Road & Track
    • five-speed manuals from ZF
    Accessed 2026-11-13
  4. 4
    Down Periscope: Isdera Imperator 108i for sale Level C Car and Driver
    • topped out at 176 mph
    • made the leap to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds
    Accessed 2026-11-13

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