Isdera Spyder

1989 Isdera Spyder 036i

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Monaco | May 14, 2022

Photo Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Isdera, the elusive German boutique carmaker, has been around since the early 1980s. They have not produced many cars since then, but the ones they have are all pretty outrageous and striking. The Spyder was their first model, going on sale in 1982.

The first Spyders were 033i variants with 1.8-liter Mercedes-Benz inline-fours. Then came the 033-16, with a 2.3-liter engine. In 1987, they launched the 036i, which featured a 3.0-liter Mercedes inline-six making 217 horsepower. Only 14 Spyders total are believed to have been built, which each one taking 12 months to complete.

This car was modified and updated by Isdera in 2011, basically restored in different colors and fitted with a 276-horsepower, 3.6-liter AMG inline-six. Isderas rarely change hands, especially at auction. You can read more about this one here.

Update: Not sold.

Isdera Commendatore 112i

1993 Isdera Commendatore 112i

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Paris, France | Sometime in 2021

Photo Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Well here we go. Two years ago, Historics auctioned a Lister Storm road car and I said “now if you could just snag an Isdera Commendatore” you’d win my heart. Well, RM Sotheby’s is doing it. The one and only Commendatore 112i is going under the hammer in Paris next year.

Isdera was founded by Eberhard Schulz in Germany in 1982. The company’s biggest success on the production car front was the Imperator 108i, which was a production version of the Mercedes-Benz CW311 concept car (which was designed by Schulz). Thirty were built between 1984 and 1993. Apparently, Isdera has produced 70 cars since 1993, but nobody really knows what they are.

The Commendatore 112i launched as a concept car at the 1993 Frankfurt Motor Show. It was named for Enzo Ferrari and was originally fitted with a 6.0-liter Mercedes-Benz V12 capable of 408 horsepower. A Ruf six-speed manual transaxle was fitted, and the car could do 211 mph.

The body is fiberglass over a spaceframe chassis. Production never materialized, and only this prototype was built. It reappeared in 1999 under the care of a Swiss businessman who updated it to the name “Silver Arrow.” It was offered for sale a few times in the ensuing years, but Isdera managed to reacquire it in 2016. It was then restored back to 1993 specification, including it’s awesome periscope mirror.

This car is 100% pure 1990s insanity. It is at the top of the heap of over-the-top supercars. And it is being sold directly from Isdera – at no reserve. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $1,343,774.

Isdera Imperator

1984 Isdera Imperator 108i

For sale at Julien Sumner Fine Motor Cars | Guildford, England

Photo - Julien Sumner Fine Motor Cars

Photo – Julien Sumner Fine Motor Cars

We’ve been waiting for years for an Isdera to hit the market and, finally, one has. Isdera is one of the most exclusive – and reclusive – automakers in the world. Currently based in Hildesheim, Germany, the company built its first car in 1969 – a replica Ford GT40 race car. In the late 1970s, company founder Eberhard Schulz helped engineer a Mercedes concept car called the CW 311.

Mercedes never actually produced the car, but Schulz was able to take control of the project and began producing it under the Isdera marque between 1984 and 1993. This particular car is the 17th Imperator built and the first to feature a 5.0-liter Mercedes-Benz V-8 engine putting out 330 horsepower. It has supercar looks (including gullwing doors) and even though there is a Mercedes emblem up front, it is an Isdera.

Only 30 Imperator 108is were built (17 of which are “Series I” cars, of which is is apparently the last). Top speed is 176 mph and this one has done it. It’s been driven and used, which is exactly what it was meant for. Isdera recommissioned the car recently and its ready to go. They never come up for sale, so if you want one, get it now. No price is listed, so click here for more info.