1965 Mercedes-Benz 600

The Mercedes-Benz 600 was built for luxury and comfort, and served as a worthy successor to the 'Grosser' Mercedes-Benz 770 of the pre-war era. Its spacious interior and extensive list of accouterments were complemented by its state-of-the-art engineering that included an air suspension system with variable ride control, disc brakes, power steering, and separate heating and ventilation systems for the front and rear compartments. Mercedes-Benz took inspiration from George Mortimer Pullman who quite literally defined what it means to travel in style with his innovative railroad sleeper cars and coach-built auto bodies. They eventually contracted with Mr. Pullman's company to create ultra-exclusive coach-built variants of their 1920s and 1930s automobiles. This was the start of a relationship that has continued to this day.

Introduced in 1963 at the Frankfurt Auto Show, the 600 series (W-100), also known as Grosse Mercedes or simply The Grosser, which instantly raised the bar of luxury transportation. It was offered in two versions, including the short-wheelbase Saloons and the long-wheelbase Pullamns.

The Mercedes-Benz 600 replaced the W189 limousine (1957-1962 / nicknamed the Adenauer) and succeeded the W112 (1961 to 1976) in using a pneumatic self-leveling suspension. Operating at 2,000 psi pressure, it powered everything from windows control to door locks in absolute silence. When production of the 600 ended in 1981, a total of 2,677 examples had been built, including 2,190 examples on the short-wheelbase and 428 on the long-wheelbase platform. Additionally, 59 examples were Landaulet body styles.

Body Styles

The SWB (short wheelbase) had a 126-inch wheelbase, was 218.1 inches long, and stood 59.1 inches tall. The four-door SWB saloon was avaialble with a power divider window that separated the rear bench seat from the front seats. The LWB (long wheelbase) had a 153.5-inch wheelbase, was 245.7 inches in length, and was 59.4 inches tall. The LWB four-door 'Pullman' limousine had two additional rear-facing seats separated from the driver compartment by a power divider window. A total of 304 examples were built in this configuration. Additionally, a six-door limousine was available on the LWB platform with two forward-facing jump-seats at the middle two doors and a rear bench-seat.

The Landaulet (four and six door) had a convertible top over the rear passenger compartment, built as either a long roof or a short roof configuration. The short roof opened only above the last, third row of seats and was the more popular of the two configurations. The rarer long roof setup with 6-doors was known as the Presidential roof and a total of nine were built. Production of the landaulet versions of the 600 ended in 1980.

The Pullman Limousine and the Landaulet were popular with the Vatican, royal households, and government officials. Former Grosser owners include Elvis Presley, Elizabeth Taylor, Coco Chanel and Aristotle Onassis. They were used by the most wealthy and influential people in the world, from Queen Elizabeth II to Mao Tse Tung.

Two one-off 600 Coupes were built for chief designer Rudolf Uhlenhaut and the other for the head of research and development Fritz Nallinger. These two coupes were built on a shortened (by 8.6 inches) SWB saloon platform.

Very few Grossers were built in right-hand drive configuration.

Engine Specification

The Mercedes-Benz was powered by a new 6.3-liter (6,332cc) M100 V8 engine with single overhead camshafts (SOHC) and a Bosch-made intermittently injecting multipoint manifold injection system. The engine output was rated at 247 hp (250 PS) and was paired with a four-speed automatic transmission.

Mechanical Specification

The front suspension was comprised of a double-wishbone hydraulic setup, while the rear received a low-pivot swing-axle with an adjustable hydraulic self-leveling system. It had power-assisted steering and four-wheel servo-assisted hydraulic disc brakes.

The 150-bar (2,176 psi) hydraulic pressure system was used to operate the car's automatically closing doors, boot lid, windows, seats, and sunroof.

Despite its not inconsiderable weight, the 600 was endowed with highly respectable performance, reaching 100km/h in a little under 10 seconds and exceeding 200km/h flat out.

The End of Production

When production of the 600 ended in 1981, it signaled the end of the ultra-luxury model for Mercedes-Benz. The heritage began with the Simplex 60 hp in 1903 and would include the pre-war SSK, 380SSK (W22), the 500K (W29), and the 540K (W24). After a two-decade-long hiatus, Mercedes-Benz would return to the ultra-luxury segment with its Maybach 57/62 and later with its Mercedes-Maybach S-Class.

by Dan Vaughan

Pullman Sedan

Mercedes-Benz introduced the 600 at the International Auto Show in Frankfurt in 1964. Powered by a 250 horsepower alloy 6.3-liter V8 engine, the 600 accelerates more like a sports car than a traditional limousine. A comprehensive hydraulic and pneumatic system powers an adjustable self-leveling suspension, assists the four-wheel disc brakes, powers the windows, maneuvers the seats, and aids in the opening of the doors and the trunk lid.

The 600 was available in a number of possible coachwork choices, and numerous options, resulting in each being essentially a custom built car. There were two wheelbase options, a four-door and six-door variant and numerous seating arrangements to select from.

In September of 1965, a four-door Pullman landaulet (partial convertible) was built for Pope Paul VI. It has an individual seat on a raised platform allowing for a flat floor, a raised roof, and extended rear doors. This vehicle was used by the Vatican for two decades and served three popes, returning home to the Mercedes-Benz Museum in 1985.

SWB Limousine

At the 1963 Frankfurt International Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz introduced an extraordinary limousine. As a successor to the legendary pre-war 540K Grosser, the W100 '600' was acclaimed to be the world's finest automobile.

The mission to create this ultimate statement of automotive style and engineering began on June 4th of 1955 when Dr. Fritz Nallinger, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, Joseph Muller and Karl Wilfert were given an unlimited budget and free rein to create the best vehicle that could be built. The timeless styling was done by Paul Bracq and Bruno Sacco.

Every single part of the 600 was newly designed and built. A new 6.3 liter V-8 engine supplied the power. Everything was operated by a hydraulic system including the windows, seats, door locks, trunk lid, sunroof, disc brakes and the doors.

There were several variants available; a standard wheelbase 4 door sedan, a long wheelbase 4 or 6 door Pullman, and a Landaulet which had a convertible top for the rear passengers.

The prestigious 600 remained in production from 1963 to 1981 with a total of 2677 vehicles produced. There were 2169 SWB Limousines, 428 Pullmans and 59 Landaulets. This car has had only two owners and only 28,100 miles of careful use.

Sedan
Chassis number: 100.012.12.000366
Engine number: 100.980.12.000394

This Mercedes-Benz W100 Series 600 SWB four-door wears black (DB 040) paint with a gray cloth interior. It resided in Utah from 1972 to 2022 in single-family ownership and currently has 76,000 miles on its odometer. It last saw road use in 1998, residing in storage since that time. Recently, this 600 received repairs to its braking and suspension systems by a Mercedes-Benz factory-trained technician.

The 6,332cc SOHC V8 engine has Bosch Mechanical fuel injection and delivers 250 horsepower at 4,000 RPM. There is a four-speed automatic transmission, power-assisted disc brakes, and an independent suspension system with pneumatic springs.

by Dan Vaughan

A representation of the absolute pinnacle of automobile engineering the Mercedes- Benz 600 was introduced in 1963. The 600 has been owned by such famous people as Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Jason Kay, Hugh Hefner, Elizabeth Taylor and Aristotle Onassis.

Produced until 1980, the Mercedes has never had a equal until the Mayback 57 and 62 models were introduced. In extremely limited numbers, the 600's M-100 engine and air suspension were fitted to the 300SEL 6.3 model in 1966. This resulted in a lighter and more affordable vehicle that was now available with more competent suspension.

A larger version of the M-100 was installed following the introduction of the 'W116'.

A vehicle that was incredibly heavy, a massive 6.3L V8 engine that came with specially developed overhead camshafts and Bosch mechanical fuel injection to move the vehicle.

The vehicle was a smooth ride with good handling that came with adjustable air suspension that improved the vehicles agility.

In 1965, production began after following two years of remodeling the 1963 model.

A large luxury automobile, it featured many prestigious features including a complex hydraulic system that powered everything from seats, windows and automatic closing doors.

The vehicle was extremely smooth with exceptional handling over any and all road surfaces, due to the adjustable air suspension.

Available in several variants, the Mercedes-Benz 600 was came in either a 4-door sedan on a short wheelbase (similar to a modern S600 sedan) or a 4-door sedan with a power window that separated the front seats from the rear bench seat.

It also was available in a 4-door limousine on a longer wheelbase that featured two rear-facing seats and a rear bench seat, or a 6-door limousine on a long wheelbase chassis. The 6-door limousine came with two forward facing jump seats that were stationed at the middle two doors and rear bench seat.

Several limousines called landaulets, came with a convertible top over the rear passenger compartment. Landaulets were taken on the market in 1971.

A total of 2,677 vehicles were produced by 1981 when product was discontinued.

by Jessican Donaldson