1968 MERCEDES 600 SHORT CHASSIS

- The ultimate in motoring luxury in its day
- With the optional divison and cocktail cabinet
- Just 2,677 examples were made, of which 2,190 were four-door saloons
- The 600 were exclusive motor cars owned and driven by rich and famous in the world as Elvis Presley, John Lennon, David Bowie, Elizabeth Taylor, Pablo Escobar, Geddafi
- It features a rear seat with enough space to hold a small dinner party
- It is the reference point for all state saloons that came after it

The Mercedes-Benz 600 (W100) is a luxury limousine series developed under the Mercedes-Benz brand by Daimler Benz in West Germany prior to the nation’s reunification.

The model made its grand debut at the 1963 Frankfurt Auto Show, were it was one of the world’s most advanced automobiles, featuring a hydraulic system that powered nearly everything in the car, including a self-levelling air suspension.

It was built in a four-door ‘short’ wheelbase iteration and two gargantuan long-wheelbase versions featuring either four or six doors.

Just 2,677 examples were made, of which 2,190 were four-door saloons, 428 were Pullman limousines, and 59 were landaulettes.

The 600 was an exclusive motor car built without compromise.

The roll call of owners includes royalty, politicians, diplomats and entertainers like Elvis Presley, John Lennon, David Bowie, Elizabeth Taylor, Pablo Escobar, Geddafi.

New emissions regulations, which went hand-in-hand with a sales ban in the USA, and, hard to believe, the oil crisis, sounded the death knell for the 600.

The titan was remove from the sales brochure in 1979.

ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC EXAMPLE

This short chassis Mercedes-Benz 600 was first registered in 1968 and is finished in an appropriate shade of elegant Red metallic with a beautiful mid tan leather interior.

The car is newly delivered in Indonesia and is now for approximately 4 years in Holland.

CONDITION EXTERIOR

The body of the Mercedes 600 is impressively nice. The paintwork is absolutely stunning with a very nice deep shining gloss.

Recently the Mercedes has been professionally polished. An entire week has been taken to bring the paint (and the rest of the car) in this amazing condition.

Cosmetically, the Mercedes 600 is in a very nice order although the restoration has been carried out some years ago. The paintwork is very nice and the body is straight and solid.

The windows are all in a very nice order as well without damages and scratches.

With a 6.3-litre fuel injected V8 engine producing 300bhp at the wheels, the 600 is capable of over 120mph and 0-60mph in just 9.5 seconds, not bad for a car weighing some 7,0001bs!

There is a limited slip differential, servo steering and calliper brakes with vacuum servo at both ends.

Other amenities included hydraulically operated windows, sunroof, glass partition, boot lit, horizontal/vertical movement and backrest angles of seats, and full electrically controlled air conditioning.
Not even the Rolls-Royce Phantom could compete with such an array of features.

CONDITION INTERIOR

The interior of the Mercedes 600 and has not lost any of its opulence or luxury. The enormous space is unique and the car looks very nice interior wise.

Both the rear as well as the leather front seats are in very nice order. Also the heading is in perfect shape as well as the high quality carpets on the ground.

The wooden dashboard as well as the side panels on the door and the back tables are unbelievable nice. Actually like a mirror.

All meters and gauges are also in a perfect working order.

DRIVING EXPERIENCE

The car runs and drives very well and is not in need of mechanical restoration or attention.

All the breaks are also properly working so technically this car is as one could expect.

The air suspension offers a smooth, comfortable driving with this highest-grade limousine, while the car keeps stable against the load movement despite of its weight.

Amongst all the excellent equipment of this most luxurious limousine, the most unique feature is the hydraulic system which is used instead of electric motors for automatic operations of the power windows, the door lock, and the automatic trunk lid. The hydraulic motor generates no sounds and thus enables smooth, elegant movements.

The steering is very light and smooth and the automatic transmission shifts very well and on the correct moments.

Altogether and extremely rare and desirable car as well as a beautiful looking and driving car. Is an excellent example of a prestige model from a prestige manufacturer.

Even in the present day, the Mercedes-Benz 600 is seen as a milestone in automobile history. It is the reference point for all state saloons that came after it – and it has still not been surpassed today!

For more information or an appointment, please call Rutger Houtkamp+31625098150 or send an e-mail to [email protected]. Please do not hesitate to contact us by phone during evenings or in the weekend.

The Houtkamp Collection is centrally located near Amsterdam and only 10 minutes from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

The Houtkamp Collection is not able to guarantee the correctness and/or the exhaustiveness of the information contained in this car description and can not accept any obligations from that.
Thank you for your cooperation.