Mercedes-Benz 600 Explained
The Mercedes-Benz 600 (W100) is a line of ultra-luxury cars produced by Daimler-Benz from 1963 to 1981. The forerunner of the modern Maybach marque, the Grosser Mercedes ("Grand Mercedes") succeeded the Type 300d "Adenauer" as the company's flagship model. It was positioned above the 300-series Mercedes-Benz W112 in price, amenities, and status. Its few competitors included British and American equivalents such as Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Lincoln Continental, Cadillac Series 75, and Imperial. It was well known for its ownership among celebrities and political leaders throughout the late 20th century.[1]
Generally, the short-wheelbase (SWB) models were designed to be owner-driven, whereas the long-wheelbase (LWB) and limousine models, often incorporating a central divider with power window, were intended for chauffeur operation.
History
The 600 replaced the Mercedes-Benz W189 limousine, which was nicknamed the Adenauer, after Konrad Adenauer, who employed several of these during his term as the first West German chancellor.
Production began in 1964 and continued through to 1981.[2] During this time, production totalled 2,677 units, comprising 2,190 Saloons, 304 Pullmans, 124 6-door Pullmans and 59 Landaulets.[2]
The 600 succeeded the 1961 Mercedes-Benz W112 in using a pneumatic self-levelling suspension,[3] [4] an enhancement of the Mercedes-Benz 300d Adenauer's dashboard activated mechanical torsion bar based system. A version is incorporated in Mercedes' current Active Body Control.
With its demise in 1981, the 600 marked the last ultra-luxury model that the brand produced in an unbroken line since the model 60 hp Simplex from 1903.[5] The company would return to this segment some 20 years later with the Maybach 57/62, but these extremely expensive cars failed to sell in expected and necessary numbers. As a result, Daimler ended production of the Maybach brand in 2012 and has not returned to this segment.
, the Mercedes flagship is the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, which occupies a considerably lower price bracket and is not a true successor to the 600 and earlier models. However, it is seen as a spiritual successor, since it is the first luxury Mercedes-Benz production model since the 600 to feature some bespoke design touches not available on the standard S-Class.
Models
The 600 came in two main variants:
- A short wheelbase 4-door saloon, available with a power divider window separating the front seats from the rear bench seat, although most were built without this feature.
- A long wheelbase 4-door "Pullman" limousine (with two additional rear-facing seats separated from the driver compartment by a power divider window, of which 304 were built), and a 6-door limousine (with two forward-facing jump-seats at the middle two doors and a rear bench-seat).
A number of the limousines were made as landaulets, with a convertible top over the rear passenger compartment. Two versions of the convertible roof were made: long roof and short roof. Of them, the short roof, which opens only above the last, third row of seats, is the more common version. Rarer, especially with the 6-door landaulets, is the long roof, called the "Presidential roof". In all, 59 landaulets were produced, and of them, only 26 were 6-door landaulets. Of these 26, only nine were 6-doors landaulets with the long Presidential-type roof. One of these nine cars was used by the former Yugoslavian president Josip Broz Tito, and it was sold in 2017 in England, for £2.5 million.[6]
Landaulets like these were also notably used by the German government, as during the 1965 state visit of Queen Elizabeth II. The Vatican, in addition to an elongated Mercedes 300d 4-door landaulet, used for the Pope a specially designed Mercedes 600 4-door landaulet, which now resides at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. Production of the landaulet versions of the 600 ended in 1980.
Mercedes also made two special 600 coupés: one as a gift for retiring long-time Mercedes chief designer Rudolf Uhlenhaut, and the other for Fritz Nallinger, head of the Mercedes research and development centre in the 1950s and 60s. These cars had a wheelbase 22 cm (8.6 inches) shorter than the SWB saloon. A single example of a SWB 4-door landaulet, combining the handling of a short-wheelbase with the qualities of a landaulet, was built by Mercedes in 1967 for former racing driver Philipp Constantin von Berckheim.
Mechanical
The 600's great size, weight, and numerous hydraulically driven amenities required more power than Mercedes' largest engine at that time, the 3-litre 6-cylinder M189, could produce. A new V8 with more than twice the capacity was developed, the 6.3 L M100. It featured single overhead camshafts (SOHC) and a Bosch-made intermittent multipoint manifold injection, and developed 2500NaN0.[7]
The 600's complex 1500NaN0 hydraulic pressure system powered the automobile's windows, seats, sun-roof, boot lid, and automatically closing doors. Adjustable air suspension delivered excellent ride quality and sure handling over any road surface.[8]
Notable owners
Famous owners of the Mercedes-Benz 600 have included the following people.
Celebrities and tycoons
Politicians and royalty
- Habib Bourguiba, President of Tunisia[37] [38]
- Hassan II of Morocco, King of Morocco[38]
- Hastings Kamuzu Banda
- Hosni Mubarak[39]
- Idi Amin[40]
- Jim Fouché
- Josip Broz Tito, four 1965 LWB 6-door Pullmans, one of which was armoured, and two LWB Pullman landaulets, acquired in 1971 and 1978 respectively (both of these were of the very-rare type where the folding parade roof extends to cover 2/3rds of the vehicle top, only 9 were made with such a roof arrangement and 6 doors, and Tito was the only statesman in the world at the time who had two such cars).[41] [42]
- Jean-Bédel Bokassa[43]
- Jean-Claude Duvalier[44]
- John Vorster
- Jomo Kenyatta[45]
- Khalid of Saudi Arabia
- Kim Il Sung[46] [29]
- Kim Jong Il[29]
- Kim Jong Un;[47] the North Korean government have also owned a landaulet (both seen in the 65th anniversary parade in Pyongyang on October 10, 2010)
- Leonid Brezhnev[38] [48]
- Léopold Sédar Senghor, President of Senegal; the first Senegalese regime (1960–1980) under him had three 600s, a short wheel base, a long wheel base, and a Landaulet, later replaced by the W126-based Carat Limousine.
- Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, who owned multiple 600 models including 3 landaulet models and 18 other for national guard[38]
- Mohammed VI of Morocco[49]
- Muhammad Zia Ul Haq, a Pakistani four-star general who served as the President of Pakistan from 1978 until his death in 1988. Also kept the same 1970 Pullman 600 as the holder of the Prime Minister Office.
- Mao Zedong, Chinese revolutionary leader[25]
- Marais Viljoen
- Mobutu Sese Seko, dictator and president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire)[25]
- Nico Diederichs
- Nicolae Ceaușescu[38] [29]
- Norodom Sihanouk, former King of Cambodia[25]
- Omar Bongo President of Gabon.[50]
- The Pope[51]
- Park Chung Hee[52]
- P. W. Botha
- Maharaj Ji/Prem Rawat, religious leader
- Pablo Escobar, Colombian drug dealer, a LWB 4-door, destroyed in an attack on Escobar in 1993 in Medellín[53]
- Robert Mugabe
- Saddam Hussein, who owned a long-roof landaulet that was recovered after the fall of Baghdad and is today owned by the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles[54]
- Silvio Berlusconi, Prime Minister of Italy[55]
- Süleyman Demirel, 9th President of Turkey[56]
- Todor Zhivkov, former President of Bulgaria from 1956 to 1989. Used Government owned high-end Benz models from 300D Adenauer to 450 SEL 6.9 for daily routine, and for State visits- 1967 600 Pullman 6-door Landaulet. The 600 Landaulet is still in use today by Bulgarian Government for Special occasions and visits.[57]
- Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto,[58] a Pakistani politician who served as the 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977, and prior to that as the 4th President of Pakistan from 1971 to 1973. He kept a 1970 Pullman 600 for Prime Minister Office use.
In popular culture
In cinema, the Mercedes 600 was featured in several James Bond films, most notably as transport of the villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in On Her Majesty's Secret Service and Diamonds Are Forever. In Octopussy, the villain Kamal Khan is seen leaving Sotheby's London auction house in a 600 Pullman. Near the beginning of 1978 movie Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?, the character played by Jacqueline Bisset is abducted from Heathrow Airport in a 600 Pullman.[59]
In Red (2010 film), the character played by Morgan Freeman arrives at Alexander Dunning's house disguised as an African dictator in a Mercedes 600.
In television, a 600 was used by fictional Channing/Gioberti family matriarch Angela Channing in the American television series Falcon Crest. Images of the car driving from San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge to the Falcon Crest vineyard were featured in the opening credits of the first four seasons. It was also prominently featured in the television show Friday the 13th.
In a Top gear challenge, Jeremy Clarkson compared his 1973 short-wheelbase 600 to James May's 1972 Rolls-Royce Corniche.
There was also a Pullman version used in the movie High Anxiety by Mel Brooks.
A red 1972 Pullman was seen in .[60]
Prince Ital Joe and Marky Mark are seen driving a 600 in the music video for their single "United".
A green 600 serves as the ride for Selena Gomez through the streets of Paris in her 2013 music video for "Slow Down."[61]
Several 600s are seen in several episodes of Amazon's original series The Man in the High Castle, transporting Nazi officials.
Jack Nicholson's character drives a black 600 in The Witches of Eastwick.[62]
In , Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr arrive in a black 600.[63]
In the Crazy Rich Asians series of novels, Shang Su Yi is regularly chauffeured in a black 600 Pullman.
In The Magic Christian, Sir Guy Grand (Peter Sellers) drives a 600 Pullman.
Technical data
Technical data Mercedes-Benz 600 (W100) (Manufacturer's figures except where stated)
Mercedes-Benz | 600 | 600 Pullman |
---|
Produced: | 1963–1981 |
Engine: | 6.3 L V8, front-mounted |
Bore x Stroke: | 103 mm x 95 mm |
Displacement: | 6332 cc |
Max. Power (DIN 70020) @ rpm: | 2500NaN0 @ 4000 |
Max. Torque (DIN 70020) @ rpm: | 510NaN0 @ 2800 |
Compression Ratio: | 9.00: 1 |
Fuel feed: | sequential manifold injection, Bosch injection pump |
Fuel tank capacity: | 1121NaN1 |
Valvetrain: | SOHC, duplex chains |
Cooling: | Water |
Gearbox: | 4-speed automatic transmission K4B 050 · gear ratio · (1) 3.9789 · (2) 2.4589 · (3) 1.5789 · (4) 1.0000 · (R) - 4.1455 rear wheel drive · axle ratio 3.2307 (42:13) |
Electrical system: | 12 volt |
Front suspension: | Double wishbones, air suspension, rubber springs, stabilizing bar |
Rear suspension:: | Low-pivot swing axle, radius arms, self-leveling air suspension, rubber springs, stabilizing bar |
Brakes: | Disc brakes (Ø 291 mm two-caliper front, 294.5 mm rear), power assisted |
Steering: | Recirculating ball steering, power assisted |
Body structure: | Sheet steel, unibody construction |
Dry weight: | 26000NaN0 | 27700NaN0 |
Loaded weight: | 30500NaN0 | 33400NaN0 |
Track front · rear: | 1587mm · 1581mm |
Wheelbase: | 32001NaN1 | 39001NaN1 |
Length: | 55401NaN1 | 62401NaN1 |
Width: | 19501NaN1 | 19501NaN1 |
Height: | 15001NaN1 | 15101NaN1 |
Tyre/Tire sizes: | 9.00H15 Supersport (6PR) |
Top speed: | 204.8km/h | 2000NaN0 |
Fuel Consumption (petrol, 98 RON; estimates): | | |
Price Germany USA: | DM 56,500 (1964) − DM 144,368 (1979) $22,000 (1965)[64] | DM 63,500 (1964) − DM 165,760 (1979) $24,000 (1965) | |
References
Bibliography
General
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Workshop manuals
External links
Notes and References
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- Web site: Mercedes-Benz 600 'Super Mercedes' (W 100), 1964 up to 1981 . media.daimler.com . 30 December 2014.
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- Werner Oswald (ed.): Deutsche Autos 1945-1975, 4th edition, Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 1979,, p. 251
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- Web site: Onassis' Mercedes to Be Auctioned Off Along With Dreams of Better Times GreekReporter.com . greece.greekreporter.com . 17 October 2016 . 30 June 2018.
- See Book: Midnight Mover: Autobiography . Bobby Womack . Womack . Bobby . Ashton . Robert . John Blake Publishing . 2006 . We rode a couple of blocks while she fixed a tune in her head and then started singing. A line just spilled out. 'Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz. 'My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends.' . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170847/http://panachereport.com/channels/old_school_update/BobbyJanis.htm . March 3, 2016.
- Web site: David Bowie remembers Berlin: "I can't express the feeling of freedom I felt there" - Page 3 of 12 - Uncut . Uncut . 25 September 2018 . 6 January 2017.
- Web site: Gerard . Jasper . Classic Mercedes 600 - as owned by Elvis Presley . Telegraph . 2010-12-10 . 2018-09-23.
- Web site: Elvis Presley's 1970 Mercedes-Benz 600 Sells for $187,390. 13 December 2010 .
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- Web site: Lennon Auction Runs Out of Gas. ABC News. 14 May 2018. en. 6 January 2006.
- Jay Kay's multi-million pound car collection . 2 January 2009 . 9 July 2012 . Autotrader . Jay's Merc 600 boasts a history as impressive as the car’s looks – it was previously owned by none other than Coco Chanel . Vijay . Pattni . https://web.archive.org/web/20120502123505/http://www.autotrader.co.uk/EDITORIAL/CARS/FEATURES/jay_kays_multi_million_pound_car_collection.html . 2 May 2012.
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- Web site: Jones . Matt . Why did so many evil men love the Mercedes 600? . 24 October 2018.
- Top Gear: Grosse vs. Corniche old car challenge, Top Gear, season 11 episode 5, BBC August 2009
- The Death and Legacy of Papa Doc Duvalier . Time . 24 August 2018 . 17 January 2011.
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- News: King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz (L) of Saudi Ar . 24 August 2018 . Getty Images.
- Web site: How African leaders spend our money The Spectator. The Spectator. 11 February 2018.
- Web site: Titov Pullman ponovo na prodaju . Autoslavia . 20 November 2016 . 30 June 2018.
- Web site: Rare Mercedes 600 Presidential Landaulet goes on sale in Derbyshire . Car Dealer Magazine . 2016-11-03 . 2018-09-23.
- Web site: Central African Republic Bangui Jean-Bedel Bokassa Coronation . AP Images . 24 August 2018.
- Web site: Schultz . Jonathan . What Becomes of the Cars of Deposed Leaders? . Wheels Blog . 19 January 2011 . 24 August 2018 . en.
- News: Mit "Harambee" und Fliegenwedel . Die Zeit . 13 October 1967 . 27 August 2018 . de.
- Web site: Teknikens Värld . Unik Mercedes 600 Landaulet till salu – Teknikens Värld . 17 May 2016 . Teknikensvarld.se . 2018-09-23.
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- Web site: Saddam Hussein's Mercedes-Benz 600 Landaulet Is Amazing And Spooky . Zac . Estrada . Jalopnik . 10 March 2013 . 8 October 2021.
- Arrivederci, Berlusconi. Vanity Fair. January 1995. 25 July 2022.
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- News: Pakistan's only Pullman 600 Grosse - a car used by Former President Zia-ul-Haq and PM Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto - PakWheels Blog. 2018-07-23. PakWheels Blog. 2018-08-31. en-US.
- Web site: Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman in "Who is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?".
- Web site: Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman in "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement".
- Web site: Selena Gomez - Slow Down (Official) . . 19 July 2013 .
- Web site: Mercedes-Benz 600 in Film . imcdb . 10 April 2024.
- Web site: Mercedes-Benz 600 in Film . imcdb . 8 February 2021.
- Book: Covello, Mike . Standard Catalog of Imported Cars 1946-2002 . Krause Publication . Iola . 2002 . 0-87341-605-8 . 533.