Ride Like a Rock Star in This 1972 Mercedes-Benz 600 Limousine
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The recently restored 1972 Mercedes-Benz 600 limousine, recently offered on eBay, would usually be reserved for CEOs, heads of state, and A-list celebrities. But anybody willing to dispense with $199,000 can now join the exclusive club.
The car cost $22,000 back in the day.
The car for sale had only 32,000 miles on the odometer before a thorough refurbishment. It's a US model—one of just 210 built for America in 1972. Mercedes initially sold the dark blue car with blue leather interior appointments in California. Since then, it has glided along the palm-lined avenues of Beverley Hills.
Waving Politicians
The limo’s restoration work included a bare-metal respray, re-chromed trim, and new tires. The dear interior leather and wood are reportedly in “superb condition.”
The 600—also known as “Grosse Mercedes”—had a long run from 1963 to 1981. The Ponton-type 300, its predecessor, was nicknamed the “Adenauer” because German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer rode in one.
The 600 came in two versions—the short- and long-wheelbase “Pullman” models. The car for sale is the former with a 126-inch wheelbase. Pullmans grow to 153.6 inches. A 600 Pullman used by Chinese bigwigs was offered on eBay last year - opens in new window or tab..
The limousines started at a mere $22,000 in 1965. That was the 600’s best year, with 345 limousines and 63 Pullmans produced. The total 600 production was 2,677.
There were also special models, such as the landaulets, which had an open roof over the passenger compartment to accommodate waving politicians. Mercedes-Benz made only 59 of those, 26 of them with six doors and a more extended roof. Among the landaulet owners was former Yugoslavian President Josip Broz Tito.
1965 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman landaulet
Good Enough for Elvis and the Pope
The Mercedes-Benz 600s are powered by a 6.3-liter V-8 engine, the M100, capable of 250 horsepower and 440 pound-feet of torque. Some S-Class sedans later used the same motor. The 600 limos were hefty cars, weighing more than 6,000 pounds. But they were capable of 124 miles per hour with that power plant.
Despite the massive weight, these cars were capable of 124 mph.
All the 600s had self-leveling suspension - opens in new window or tab., like Citroëns. The hydraulic system also moved the power windows, seats, sunroof, and trunk and automatically closed the doors. As you might suspect, it was massively complex and expensive to fix.
Celebrity owners included John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison, Jay Leno, Aristotle Onassis, David Bowie, Hugh Hefner, and Jack Nicholson. Elvis and the Pope had one.
Leaders who ruled with an iron fist seemed to like the 600. There was Nicaragua’s Anastasio Somoza, Papa Doc Duvalier of Haiti, Idi Amin of Uganda, and Kim il-Sung and Kim Jong-il of North Korea.
There’s a family resemblance to Benzes of the period, but many body panels are unique.
All citizens have access to eBay’s extensive inventory of parts for the Mercedez-Benz 600 - opens in new window or tab. series. Mercedes V-8 engines - opens in new window or tab. are plentiful because some S-Class sedans use them. Interior and body parts are mainly unique to the vehicle and will be harder to find, though there are a surprising number of parts cars around.
Admit it. You deserve to ride in back.
The difficulty of restoring a 600 is why it might be better to buy a fully restored example like this one. Can you imagine being chauffeured like a rock star for your daily commute? A cool $200k is all it takes.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.