Mercedes - Benz 600 1963 - 1981 - Model history

Philosophy is in a German factory Mercedes-Benz in Stuttgart it has always been: luxury, quality and power, but in 1963, at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz seemed to outperform itself. The Model 600 was the biggest star of the salon, and the visitors' faces showed true delight with this car cruiser. But those same faces at the same time commented vehemently: "Ah, I know I'll never sit in that Mercedes."

Namely, there was no need to look at the price of this model, because the phenomenon itself announced that it was the most expensive car that came out of the factory in Baden-Württemberg. Kings, princes, world dictators and only extremely wealthy individuals could smell a five-star hotel on four wheels. Although the demand was high, Mercedes-Benz intended the Model 600 only for a select few and therefore production was limited. The model was on the market for an incredible 18 years, from August 1963 to June 1981, but only 2677 models came out of the factory.

Mercedes - Benz 600

Landaulet for the Pope

The Mercedes-Benz 600 could be ordered in one of four variants: short wheelbase, long wheelbase Pullman; in 4 or 6 door version, identical in dimensions but completely different in purpose - Landaulet convertible. It was the most exclusive variant that made its appearance fall off its feet. In fact, it was not a classic convertible (for Christ's sake, what would it be with almost 6 meters in length ?!), but only the back of the roof, the one in which "they" resided, descended.

You guessed it, it was Landaulet who was the favorite among the world's dictators, leaders, and others who wanted or had to parade between the masses of people. The most famous Landaulet user in the world was Pope Paul VI. The Vatican received a special version of this model in 1966 and since then the Holy See has been closely linked to Mercedes models. After 20 years of service to the Vatican, the car was donated to the Mercedes Museum.

Only 59 models were made + of which ten had an extended roof. Almost equally sensational with its appearance was the 6-door Pullman model, which made 428 pieces. The short wheelbase 4-door sedan was made in the largest number - 2190.

Below 10 s to 100 and over 200 km / h

Regardless of the body version, there was only one engine. And what kind! 6332 cubic centimeters distributed in 8 cylinders in V formation. The engine had mechanical fuel injection, camshaft in the head and 9: 1 compression. Power was 250 hp at 4000 / min with a powerful torque of 502 Nm at 2800 / min. It was Mercedes' first production V8 engine and was reserved exclusively for the Mercedes-Benz 600 until 1968, when installation began on the exclusive 300 SEL 6.3 sedan.

The 3900 mm long model, and no less the 3200 mm short wheelbase model, have truly admired their proportions - 5540 mm in length with the shorter version and even 6248 mm in Pullman length! Weight? Approximately: from 2422 kg to 2600 kg for sedans and from 2640 to 2699 kg for Pullman. But despite its heavy weight, which is not too heavy on the heart (today's VW Phaeton W12 weighs 5 kg at 2480 meters in length), the 600 has a runaway speed of over 6.3 km / h thanks to its powerful 200 engine and four-speed automatic! Uh, how was that feeling somewhere; Pullman, like a booming locomotive, overtakes you at 190 km / h while you roll on the highway at just 80 km / h and you seem to be racing like an airplane!

Mercedes - Benz 600

It was a special experience somewhere, but we are sure that there were quite a few. A little more about performance; acceleration lasted from 9.7 to 12 seconds (depending on version and number of passengers) while a quarter of a mile (402 meters) crossed in 17 seconds. In order to provide sufficient energy for a large number of ancillary systems that cared for luxury, the engine was powered by two alternators.

At home ... Hell, better!

The very idea of ​​the 600 was clear - to offer the best possible, super-luxury four-wheeled boat. One of the people in charge, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, once said that the cost of making this model was completely insignificant. Uhlenhaut added: “Enough space for tall people, the best possible suspension, minimal body curvature in corners, a large number of combinations in all seats, excellent ventilation, heating and air conditioning, quiet operation of the complete car and electric control of all manual commands ». And that 600 could! It was a car like no other. Its independent and adjustable suspension ensured an incredibly calm and comfortable ride regardless of the conditions.

Mercedes - Benz 600

Hydraulic shock absorbers were controlled via a three-stage (soft, medium, hard) control located at the steering wheel. If the road required an increased distance of the body from the ground, the 600 could grow by an additional 5 centimeters. Needless to say, each 600 model was handmade at a factory in Sindelfingen. Travelers enjoyed the finest leather, the finest fabrics and the most precious wood.

The first models also had hydraulic door closures, but that system was abandoned as too complicated. Pullman models are generally shipped with a refrigerated mini bar. Hydraulics triggered almost all controls, and ventilation included dual-zone air conditioning (for the front and rear). The radio had remote control while 13 lamps provided enough light. The most mentioned patent of the 600 was the remote positioning of the exterior mirrors. Let's not forget, it's 1963!

Unmatched

The best of the best stopped producing after an incredible 18 years, but its ingenuity is still as obsessive as it was on the first day of its creation. Although today Mercedes offers the remarkable hi-tech cruiser Maybach in which we can easily imagine many of this story, the Mercedes-Benz 600 still remained an automobile deity unrivaled.

Mercedes - Benz 600

Production:    1963.-1981.
Engine:    B8, 6332 cm3
Power (kW / hp):    186/250
Top speed (km / h):    204
Number of copies produced:    2677