Eberhard Schulz: The Man Who Built His Own Mercedes

Eberhard Schulz is the ultimate DIY engineer. He dropped out of college to build a supercar in his laundry room, which he used to land a job at Porsche. He later founded Isdera to build the cars that big manufacturers were too afraid to make, creating the only non-Mercedes vehicle officially allowed to wear the three-pointed star.

The Laundry Room Resume

In the late 1960s, engineering student Eberhard Schulz did something unheard of. He dropped out of school and started building a sports car in his parents' laundry room and front yard. The result was the Erator GTE, a gullwing coupe that looked like a Ford GT40 but was built from scratch. In 1971, he drove this homemade car to the gates of Porsche and Mercedes-Benz as his job application. Porsche was so impressed by the young man who built a working supercar in his backyard that they hired him on the spot.

The Forbidden Star

While working at Porsche, Schulz spent his spare time designing a spiritual successor to the Mercedes 300 SL. He called it the CW311. Mercedes liked the car but refused to put it into production. Undeterred, Schulz founded his own company, Isdera (Ingenieurbüro für Styling, DEsign und RAcing), to build it himself as the Imperator 108i. The car was so well-engineered that Mercedes-Benz did something they had never done before or since: they officially allowed Schulz to place the Mercedes three-pointed star on the grille, making it the only vehicle in history to wear the badge without being built by Mercedes.

The Gamer's Dream

To a generation of gamers, Schulz is the man behind the Isdera Commendatore 112i. Featured as a hero car in Need for Speed II, this V12 hypercar was famous for its roof-mounted periscope mirror (instead of side mirrors) and an active airbrake that stood up like a wall during braking. It remains one of the most distinctive and aerodynamic cars ever made, proving that a single determined engineer could rival the world's biggest corporations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Eberhard Schulz and what is his contribution to supercar history?

<p><strong>Eberhard Schulz</strong> is a legendary German designer and engineer, most famous for founding <strong>Isdera</strong> (Ingenieurbüro für Styling, Design und Racing). Before establishing his own brand, he worked at <strong>Porsche</strong> and <strong>Mercedes-Benz</strong>, where he developed the CW311 concept. Schulz is celebrated in the <strong>USA</strong> and globally for his uncompromising pursuit of "pure" automotive design, creating some of the most radical and aerodynamically advanced supercars of the 20<sup>th</sup> century.</p>

What was the significance of the Mercedes-Benz CW311 designed by Schulz?

<p>In 1978, working outside the traditional corporate structure, Eberhard Schulz designed the <strong>Mercedes-Benz CW311</strong>. This wedge-shaped supercar featured a <strong>drag coefficient</strong> (C<sub>d</sub>) of just 0.311, which was incredibly low for the era. Although it wore the Mercedes star, it was a private project that eventually became the blueprint for the <strong>Isdera Imperator 108i</strong>, bridging the gap between concept art and production reality.</p>

How did Eberhard Schulz innovate with the Isdera Imperator 108i?

<p>The <strong>Isdera Imperator 108i</strong> was Schulz’s most successful production car. It featured <strong>gullwing doors</strong> and a unique roof-mounted periscope instead of a traditional rear-view mirror. By utilizing <strong>Mercedes-Benz V8 engines</strong> and a tubular spaceframe, Schulz created a vehicle that offered the reliability of a major German manufacturer with the exclusivity of a bespoke boutique brand, a combination highly prized by <strong>American collectors</strong>.</p>

What is the Isdera Commendatore 112i and why is it technically unique?

<p>The <strong>Isdera Commendatore 112i</strong>, introduced in 1993, was Schulz’s magnum opus. It featured a 6.0L V12 engine from Mercedes-Benz and a 6-speed manual transmission specifically modified from a <strong>Porsche</strong> unit. The car utilized <strong>active aerodynamics</strong>, including an electronic airbrake, and its body was made entirely of glass-fiber reinforced plastic. Its presence in popular video games like <em>Need for Speed</em> made Eberhard Schulz a household name for a generation of automotive enthusiasts in the <strong>United States</strong>.</p>

What was Eberhard Schulz’s "Erator GTE" project?

<p>Long before founding Isdera, Schulz built the <strong>Erator GTE</strong> in his own laundry room in the late 1960s. This mid-engine GT was so well-engineered that when he drove it to <strong>Porsche’s headquarters</strong> in Zuffenhausen, they hired him on the spot. This "entry by excellence" is a legendary story in <strong>American automotive design</strong> circles, representing the ultimate triumph of the independent engineer.</p>

How did Schulz’s work at Porsche influence his later designs?

<p>During his tenure at <strong>Porsche</strong>, Schulz worked in the design department under Anatole Lapine. He contributed to the <strong>928</strong> and <strong>924</strong> programs, where he mastered the art of <strong>transaxle layouts</strong> and aerodynamic efficiency. These principles of weight distribution and airflow management became the technical foundation for every Isdera model, ensuring they handled with the precision of a Le Mans prototype on the open road.</p>

Why did Eberhard Schulz use a periscope instead of mirrors?

<p>Schulz was obsessed with <strong>aerodynamic purity</strong>. He believed that side mirrors created unnecessary drag and disrupted the airflow over the car's shoulders. By placing a <strong>periscope</strong> on the roof, he kept the car's profile clean while providing the driver with an unobstructed view of the rear. This quirky but functional innovation is one of the most discussed "long-tail" facts among <strong>USA supercar historians</strong>.</p>

What is the status of Eberhard Schulz’s Isdera brand in 2026?

<p>In 2026, the <strong>Isdera</strong> name continues to represent the pinnacle of German "bespoke engineering." The brand has recently explored the <strong>Commendatore GT</strong>, an electric 2+2 grand tourer that maintains Schulz’s original design language. While the founder is less active in daily operations, his philosophy of <strong>low-volume, high-technology</strong> manufacturing remains the guiding light for the brand’s expansion into the global EV market.</p>

What long-tail keywords are best for researching Eberhard Schulz?

<p>Researchers and collectors in the USA often use terms such as <em>"Eberhard Schulz Erator GTE history," "Isdera Imperator 108i technical specs," "Mercedes-Benz CW311 production numbers,"</em> and <em>"Isdera Commendatore 112i Nurburgring testing."</em> These queries reflect a deep interest in the <strong>rare and artisanal</strong> side of the German automotive industry.</p>

Where are Eberhard Schulz’s cars showcased today?

<p>Due to their extreme rarity, Schulz’s creations are usually found in private collections or high-end museums. The <strong>Isdera Commendatore 112i</strong> is a frequent star at the <strong>Concours d'Elegance</strong> circuits in the USA, such as Pebble Beach. His work is also archived at the <strong>Mercedes-Benz Museum</strong> in Stuttgart, acknowledging his role in pushing the brand's design boundaries during the "wedge era" of the 1970s and 80s.</p>