What does this have to do with Bitter ?

Inspired by the fantastic Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing and the amazing Mercedes C-111 project, Eberhard Schultz, in those days working for Porsche's design centre in Stuttgart, started to work on his own CW-311 project in 1972. After six years he swopped his Porsche drawing table for a collaboration with Rainer Buchmann of the B+B company. This collaboration allowed him to finally present the CW-311 in 1978. The car was shown on all important motor shows and was even the star in a movie (Carnapping, German-French coproduction).

In 1981 Eberhard Schultz left B+B to establish his own company Isdera (Ingenieurbüro für Styling, Design und Racing) and in 1984, 12 years after the project was first started, the CW-311 was again presented on the Geneva motor show as the Isdera Imperator 108i. In 1986 the first Imperators were delivered to Isdera's privileged and especially wealthy customers.

But what does this have to do with Bitter, besides the fact that I have both a 1:43 model of the BB CW-311 and a Bitter SC Coupé on my shelf ?

The Bitter Rallye prototype was entirely designed and built by Isdera in 1983-1984. In less than a year Isdera converted a standard Opel Manta-B into the stylish little Ferrari from Schwelm. Unfortunately financial problems and the fact that the Manta-B was about to be discontinued put an end to the project in 1986.

Picture 1 and 2 : My 1:43 models of the BB CW-311 and SC 559. Note the BB logo, the Mercedes emblem and the F - CW 311 registration.

Picture 3 and 4 : The Mercedes C-111 together with the Isdera Imperator 108i. Note the Isdera emblem and the BB - CW 311 registration.

Picture 5 and 6 : Erich Bitter inspecting the Bitter Rallye 1:1 gyps model at Isdera.


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