This is the unbelievably a la mode 1989 Zender Vision 3! In the year 1969, a man named Hans-Albert Zender founded a sole proprietorship under the name of ‘HAZ’ when he was only 23 years of age. Early in his career, Mr. Zender was customizing car interiors in a small garage located in Bassenheim, Germany. In 1974, the name ‘Zender’ appeared as a replacement for the original name. Zender soon expanded even further, now producing other components such as rear wings, fenders, and other various automotive parts. Ford became an early customer of Zender, and Volkswagen as well in 1975. In 1979 Zender moved facilities to Mülheim-Kärlich, Germany, and by 1983 during the IAA Frankfurt Auto Show, Zender would have presented their first ever design study, the futuristic Vision 1 (1s). Just one year later, in 1984, Hans Albert Zender Exklusiv-Auto was founded with the main focus being production of unique automobiles. In total, six full-sized ‘Vision’ concept cars were created, the 1983 Vision 1 (1s) being the first project in the lineup followed by the 1S (1984), 2 (1985), 3C (1986), 3 (1987). The 3C was introduced in 1986 as a further development of the Zender Vision 2. This was quickly followed up one year later with the Vision 3 at the 1987 IAA Frankfurt show. The Vision 3 was styled by a talented designer by the name of Günther Zillner, and is the last of the ‘Vision’ series before Zender’s introduction of the Fact 4 at the 1989 IAA Frankfurt. The Vision 3 went through vigorous wind-tunnel testing at Aachen Technical University to ensure the glass and carbon fiber reinforced plastic bodywork and quadrangular tubular steel chassis were as perfect as possible. The original white Zender 3 is said to be kept on display at the companies museum in Mülheim-Kärlich, while this Brabus-tuned purple-colored example is owned by @bigbarto77!
How many made? 2
Engine: Mercedes 5.6L v8, tuned by Brabus with about 350hp with a ZF DS5 25 5-speed manual gearbox
Debut: IAA Frankfurt Motor Show (1987)
Top Speed: 175mph (estimated)
0-60mph: 6 seconds (estimated)
Photo Credit: @bigbarto77
Research: @rarecarsonly