Mercedes-Benz 600
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz |
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| Class | Full-size luxury car |
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| Layout | FR layout |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 6.3 L M100 V8 |
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The Mercedes-Benz 600 was a high-end luxury sedan and limousine produced by Mercedes-Benz from 1963 to 1981. Generally, the short-wheel-base (SWB) models were designed to be owner-driven, the long-wheel-base (LWB), often incorporating a central divider with power window, by a chauffeur.
The forerunner of the modern Maybach marque, the 600 "Grosser Mercedes" ("Grand Mercedes") succeeded the Type 300 "Adenauer" as the company's flagship and most expensive model. Positioned well above the 300-series Mercedes-Benz W112, its few competitors included certain models of Rolls-Royce and Bentley, the Cadillac Fleetwood 75, stretched Lincoln Continental Lehmann-Peterson, and the Chrysler Imperial Crown Ghia.
Production began in 1964 and continued through to 1981. During this time, production totalled 2,677 units, comprising 2,190 Saloons, 304 Pullmans, 124 6-door Pullmans and 59 Landaulets.
The 600 came in two main variants:
A number of the Pullman limousines were made as landaulets, with a convertible top over the rear passenger compartment. These were notably used by the Pope and the German government, as during the 1965 state visit of Queen Elizabeth II. Production of this model ended in 1980.
Mercedes also made two coupés, one as a gift for retiring long-time Mercedes chief designer Dr. Rudolf Uhlenhaut, and the other to one Dr. Fritz Nallinger. These cars had a wheelbase 22 cm (8.6 inches) shorter than the SWB sedan. A third was constructed by 600 experts and restorers Karl Middelhauve & Associates of Wausau, Wisconsin from a SWB sedan.
Karl Middelhauve has also created a pair of matching Chevrolet El Camino-style coupes from 600 SWB sedans. One of them has a Vortech supercharger.
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Wikipedia