1966 Mercedes-Benz 600 Sedan

The long-wheelbase 600 (named for its six-plus-liter engine) was intended to be chauffeur driver, while the short wheelbase version was meant to be owner driven. The Mercedes-Benz 600, which was introduced at the 1963 Paris Auto Show, was the pinnacle of avant-grade automotive engineering. It was a four-door sedan meant to serve the burgeoning upper class. It entered a market where there were competitors, including Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and the Cadillac Fleetwood 75.

The Mercedes-Benz 600 was given a vast array of ultra high-tech features that made it popular with the jet set community. The 600 had self-leveling air suspension, dual-circuit hydraulic disc brakes, and a symbiotic electro-hydraulic control system for everything from windows to the trunk release. Power was from a 6.3-liter, fuel-injected V8 engine offering 250 horsepower and a top speed close to 130 mph.

This particular 600 was built in 1966, and is one of only 323 manufactured that year. The early history is not known, but in the early 2000s it was sent to Peter Krausert, also known as 'Herr 600', for a restoration. The car was finished in a combination of Dark Red (DB 542) with parchment leather, as designated by the data tag.

The car then spent several years in storage in an airplane hangar in Glendale, Arizona. It was subsequently purchased in November of 2011 by the current owner. Under the new ownership, the car was given a complete fuel-system restoration. The distributor was refurbished to factory specifications and all four air-suspension bags were replaced. New window hydraulics and switches were fitted, as well as new tie rod ends and tires.

The engine is an 8-cylidner, 6329cc unit fitted with a Bosch fuel injection system. It has 250 horsepower, a 4-speed automatic transmission, and 4-wheel dual-circuit hydraulic disc brakes.

By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2014