1966 Mercedes-Benz 600

As the 1960s came into view, Mercedes-Benz's ever-expanding model range was all-encompassing, except it lacked a prestige saloon that could fill the void left by the 'Grosser' Mercedes 770 of the past. That position was filled with the introduction of the all-new and well-equipped Mercedes-Benz 600 sedan, introduced in 1963 at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The 600 was beloved by heads of state, endowed with respectable performance, a masterpiece of engineering, and far above the opposition. It represented the state-of-the-art in automotive engineering in nearly every department and came equipped with an overhead camshaft, fuel-injected 6.3-liter eight-cylinder engine, an air suspension with variable ride control, four-wheel disc brakes, power-assisted steering, four-speed automatic transmission, center locking, and separate heating and ventilation systems for the front and rear compartments. The multi-way adjustable seating was powered by a sophisticated system of hydraulics that also operated the windows and assisted in opening/closing the doors and boot lid.

It was built in short-wheelbase saloon and nine-passenger long-wheelbase limousine forms and was capable of reaching 60 mph in slightly more than ten seconds with a top speed in excess of 125 mph. The 6.3-liter M100 eight-cylinder engine had Bosch mechanical fuel injection and developed 250 horsepower. In 1975, a larger 6.9-liter version of the M-100 was installed in the W116 Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9, and the air suspension was replaced with a hydraulic suspension.

The most popular body style was the 3,200 mm (10-foot, 6-inch) wheelbase saloon with seating for six passengers. The long-wheelbase Pullman limousine exceeded twenty feet in length and could accommodate up to eight passengers. The four-door saloon was available with a power divider window separating the rear bench seat from the front seats, and only a few received this feature. The four-door 'Pullman' limousine had two additional rear-facing seats and a power divider window. The six-door limousine had two forward-facing jump seats at the middle two doors and a rear bench seat. A few limousines were built as landaulets, with a convertible top over the rear passenger compartment.

Production
Only 2,677 examples were built by the time production ceased in 1981, of which 2,190 were four-door saloons, 428 were Pullman limousines, and 59 were landaulets. Of the 59 landaulets, 26 were six-door landaulets, with nine of those being six-door landaulets with the long Presidential-type roof. The short roof version opened above the last, third row of seats and was the more common of the two. Two special 600 coupes were also constructed as a retirement gift for Mercedes chief designer Rudolf Uhlenhaut and the other for Fritz Nallinger, head of the Mercedes research and development center in the 1950s and 1960s. These two cars rested on a wheelbase that was 8.6 inches shorter than the SWB saloon. A third coupe was built later built by Karl Middelhauve of Wausau, Wisconsin, from a SWB saloon.

Mechanical Specification
Short Wheelbase
The short wheelbase (SWB) chassis had a 126-inch wheelbase, an overall length of 218.1 inches, and stood 59.1 inches tall.

Long Wheelbase
The long wheelbase (LWB) chassis had a 153.5-inch wheelbase, an overall length of 245.7 inches, and a height of 59.4 inches.

The front suspension was a double-wishbone adjustable air setup, while the rear relied on a swing-axle and self-leveling air system. Four-wheel dual-circuit hydraulic disc brakes provided the stopping power.

Engine
The 6.3-liter (6329cc) M100 had single overhead camshafts (SOHC) and an intermittently injecting multipoint manifold injection system made by Bosch. It developed 247 horsepower at 4,100 RPM and was paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. In 1975, the displacement of the M-100 engine grew to 6.9 liters and was used to power the W116 Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9.

Rudolf Uhlenhaut - head of passenger car development for Mercedes-Benz - had three focal points for the Grand 600 : Supreme passenger comfort, ultimate safety, and exquisite performance

by Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2021