Isdera Erator GTE MK III

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PROTOTYP

MERCEDES
V8 ENGINE

315 KM/H
TOP SPEED

ROAD LEGAL

Technical specifications

Manufacturer

Isdera

Model

Erator GTE

Model series

MK III

Mileage

41.279 km

Year of construction

1969

Initial registration

19.11.1970

Engine

V8 (Daimler M117)

Performance (hp)

268 kW / 389 hp

Transmission

5-speed manual gearbox

engine (ccm)

4.939 ccm

Fuel

Petrol

Steering

Left-hand drive

Exterior

Silver

Interior

Black

General inspection

New

Quantity

Matching-Numbers

Historic Plate

car description

The Erator GTE is an extraordinary one-off creation by Eberhard Schulz, who developed and built the car in a large laundry room and his front yard in the East Frisian town of Klostermoor back in the late 1960s. Operating under the name "Ednilreg Automobil Styling und Prototypenbau," named after the first name of his wife Gerlinde, this unique vehicle was developed with the internal code 004. Series production was never intended, thus the Erator GTE remained a one-of-a-kind car. Schulz later continued his work by founding ISDERA GmbH, where he produced other legendary models such as the Spyder, the commentadoe and the Imperator. Cars which have achieved seven figure results in past auctions.

Technically, the two-seater mid-engine coupé is based on a welded steel tube frame, which is fitted with a glued-on fiberglass body and distinctive gullwing doors. The Erator GTE underwent several development stages, ultimately leading to the Mk III version. Initially equipped with a 40 kW flat engine from VW, which allowed a top speed of 175 km/h, the car was later fitted with a powerful V6 engine from the Ford Capri, doubling its power and increasing the speed to over 220 km/h.

The final version of the Erator GTE was equipped with a V8 racing engine based on the Mercedes-Benz M 117, with 5 liters of displacement and dry sump lubrication. To accommodate the powerful engine, the body was widened by 100 mm, and the vehicle height was reduced by 20 mm. Equipped with four open Weber IDA dual carburetors and a dual exhaust system, the Erator GTE reached an impressive top speed of 315 km/h—faster than contemporary icons like the Ford GT40 and the Lamborghini Miura.

Additionally, the Erator GTE is outfitted with numerous motorsport features: an adjustable Gurney flap at the rear, a fire suppression system in the passenger footwell, full bucket seats with four-point harnesses, an externally operated emergency cutoff switch, and a special helmet holder in the roof area. This combination of technology, design, and uniqueness makes the Erator GTE a masterpiece of automotive engineering and a fascinating chapter in the history of car development.

History of the series

Eberhard Schulz, a visionary engineer and automotive enthusiast, began his remarkable career in an unconventional way. Although he studied mechanical engineering, he left his studies before completing his diploma to pursue his true passion: building sports cars. In 1968, Schulz embarked on an ambitious project to develop his own sports car, starting with modest resources in a large laundry room and his front yard in the East Frisian town of Klostermoor. The result was the Erator GTE, a vehicle boasting an impressive 400 horsepower and a top speed of over 300 km/h.

Armed with the Erator GTE as his sole reference, Schulz approached automotive manufacturers Mercedes-Benz and Porsche to apply for a job. Despite not having a formal degree, his work spoke for itself, and in 1971, he secured a position at Porsche. While working at Porsche, Schulz continued to pursue his innovative projects in his free time, including the development of the CW 311, a vehicle inspired by the legendary Mercedes-Benz 300 SL with gullwing doors.

In 1977, Schulz acquired a Porsche 904, which he restored and later raced in vintage car events. The following year, he met tuner Rainer Buchmann, whose company bb employed up to 60 people at the time. Schulz left Porsche to collaborate with Buchmann, but the partnership was short-lived due to a falling out.

In 1982, Schulz founded his own company, Isdera, an acronym for "Ingenieurbüro für Styling, Design und Racing" (Engineering Office for Styling, Design, and Racing). The company benefited from development contracts from the automotive industry, but Schulz continued to pursue his visions, developing his first production car, the Spyder 033i, which was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 1983.

In the following years, Schulz built and marketed a small series of 30 vehicles under the name Isdera Imperator 108i, with the '8' referencing the vehicle's V8 engine. Although his fame began to fade in the 1980s, Schulz once again demonstrated his expertise with the Isdera Commendatore 112i, equipped with a V12 engine. In 2006, he capped off his impressive career with the introduction of the Isdera Autobahnkurier 116i, an extraordinary vehicle powered by two V8 engines, showcasing the innovative spirit and creative genius of Eberhard Schulz.

Price

Price on request (VAT not applicable)

This offer and the information contained therein are non-binding. Errors, omissions and prior sale excepted.

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