Isdera Imperator 108i (Serie II)

Isdera Imperator 108i is a small-scale sports car produced from 1984 to 1993. The first series was produced from 1984 to 1991, the second - from 1991 to 1993. A total of 30 copies were produced, of which 17 were from the first series, most of which were exported.

Development and design

Isdera founder Eberhard Schulz maintained a close relationship with Mercedes-Benz as he worked as a design engineer for Mercedes for 5 years. With the blessing and financial support of Mercedes, his engineering company developed a mid-engined supercar called the Mercedes CW311. Despite the lack of interest in putting it into production, Mercedes was willing to supply engines and other components and allowed Isdera to build the car under its own name. This is how the Isdera Imperator 108i was born and in 1984 it was presented at the Geneva Motor Show. The car had minor differences in interior space and appearance, mainly with a wider track, lighting technology and emblems.

The sports car shared many styling and design ideas with the Lamborghini Countach (and, curiously, similar to the later Vector W8) - a mid-engined, tubular steel frame with a fiberglass body. But it also had significant differences - a mirror-periscope on the roof and doors of the "gull wing" type. "Ordinary", guillotine-type doors, Eberhard Schultz seemed too complicated.

Despite the use of fiberglass in the bodywork to reduce weight and its very streamlined shape, the drag coefficient was a disappointing 0.38.

Mechanics

The first copies of the Imperator 108i were equipped with a 5-liter Mercedes-Benz M117 V8 engine with a capacity of 235 hp. from the Mercedes-Benz 500SEC, which allowed the car to accelerate to 100 km / h in 6.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 262 km / h. But, since Mercedes-Benz made changes to its engines, Isdera cars produced at different times had different specifications. So in 1985 a 245 hp injection engine appeared, and in 1987 its power increased to 265 hp.

After the introduction of more powerful engines from Mercedes-Benz, they also appeared on the Imperator 108i. This is a 5.5-liter Mercedes-Benz M117 E56 engine with a capacity of 300 hp from a Mercedes-Benz 560SEC without a catalyst, which accelerated the Imperator 108i weighing 1350 kg to 100 km/h in 5.8 seconds and allowed to develop a maximum of 270 km/h . Later, an AMG V8 with a power of 365 hp, with which the sports car could overcome the first hundred in 4.6 seconds and accelerate to 287 km/h.

In 1988, Schultz borrowed a six-liter V8 engine with 385 hp from colleagues from AMG. (566 N∙m), with which the Imperator was able to accelerate to 308 km / h, and a year later - already up to 314 km / h, thanks to a 414-horsepower engine (574 N∙m).

As a result of modernization in 1991, approximately 60% of the components were finalized. In appearance, the Series 2 reverted to the retractable headlights from the 1978 show car, in addition to a more rounded body shape, additional front vents near the doors, a NACA duct at the front instead of three vents, a redesigned front grille, and moving the direction indicators from the front grille to the lower part of the headlights, as well as additional side mirrors in place of the periscope on the roof. The sports car was also made safer: a catalyst was added and exhaust pipes brought to the side in front of the rear axle, as well as an anti-lock brake system.

Mercedes engines of a new design were left: a 5-liter version with 330 hp and a 6-liter version with 414 hp. In 1993, another revision followed, which mainly consisted of improved brakes and larger wheels.

As a result of constant upgrades, the cost of the sports car has risen from the original DM 250,000 for the first samples to DM 400,000.

Sources