Next to the long-wheelbase version, nothing suggests you’re an important national servant, successful athlete, or world-famous musician quite like a standard length Mercedes-Benz S600 limo. Introduced in 1963, this generation of the S600 represented the epitome of German luxury. Normally we eschew parts cars, but with more than 70 bids driving the price beyond $13,000, this sedan seems destined to dodge any suggestion of being crushed and made into a washing machine. It’s located in Endicott, New York and is listed here on eBay.
Do you see anything in the engine bay that suggests it dates from 1967? Very little I would venture! That brilliant M100 engine featured overhead camshafts, aircraft-style sodium-filled valves, dry-sump lubrication, and Bosch fuel injection. This 6.3 liter version made a conservatively rated 250 HP and 371 lb-ft of torque. Those numbers sound less impressive these days, but Mercedes-Benz focused on sustained performance at speed. Each M100 received 265 minutes of testing, 40 minutes under full load. Would your daily driver survive 40 minutes of wide-open-throttle? This 51-year-old sedan would do it all day (thanks to wikipedia.org for some details).
While this S600 looks limousine black from a distance, you can see here it’s actually a majestic dark blue. This car has supposedly covered a mere 48,000 reported miles so many of its mechanical parts may have enough wear left to survive a second life of limited service shuttling an owner who fancies something classier than newer long-wheelbase offerings.
These cars have served many named individuals in the past and are a regular sight at Concours events today. Jay Leno has a similar car from 1972. Even the late Saddam Hussein owned an interesting landaulet version. So, it’ll be interesting to see what happens with this one. Picture this S600 fully restored and parked in your driveway. Are you the getaway driver or the pampered passenger?
This is at least a $100,000 restoration, and the end result would be an incredible driver. Once it was off its knees, the after restoration maintenance is very expensive and absolutely worth it. Check with the Factory to see of there is a bizarre story attached to it, and join the Owner’s Club so you won’t be alone.
I think you’re off by quite a bit. A window switch is around $12,000, as is the trunk actuator. It’s likely $100,000 will only buy a fraction of the items this car needs.
The kph speedometer and what looks like a cloth/wool interior are interesting, as is the limo divider which is not usually seen on the SWB cars, that being said, this is a heap and these cars are probably the most over-rated, over complicated and not really very attractive either, things ever made, I don’t car what Jeremy Clarkson says….yeah, if your the Pope or Idi Amin, maybe you can afford to have one, but $5000 window regulator? You can stick that right up your you know what.
Not S600. Just 600. Nothing to do with the S-class.
Would love to a follow up on this please also how the restoration goes many time we see a car then that’s it no follow or just a few are reposted .
Much more deplorable shape as compared to this one:
https://barnfinds.com/high-end-limousine-1969-mercedes-benz-pullman/
I still like what I wrote about that on October 3.
I have fond memories of a 600 Pullman. One time I was hitch-hiking to school and one of these stopped and the chauffeur asked if I wanted a ride?
I was somewhat dubious about getting in, and then figured what the heck and did.
The driver asked me where exactly I was heading and I told him the “school at the bottom of the hill”. He then asked me which parking lot was the teacher’s lot, which I directed him to.
When he pulled into the lot, my homeroom teacher was just getting out of his little car of some sort and the Principal was getting out of his rusty Cadillac.
He actually cut-off the Principal, so that the principal was trapped between his car and a wall.
The chauffeur asked me to stay in the car until he came around to open my door for me. He stated, he would ask me a question when he opened the door, and he hoped I would respond appropriately.
When he opened the door, he stated “Shall I pick you up after school, Sir?”
I responded, “that’s not necessary, just drive my Father as usual.”
It’s funny, from that point on the principal greeted me by name, every time he saw me. Most of the teachers went out of the way to help me with virtually anything. I was never again late for school, I never skipped a class and I never was absent or even required a note for anything.
That’s what a 600 Pullman does for people.
Epic story, Al! Thanks for sharing your first-hand encounter with one of these remarkable vehicles.
That was the best ride for your future success! In just a short ride your mind grew up and decided what success felt like.
Great story and in 10 years I’ll look for the book!
Best wishes, Gene Billero
I remember a 600 (don’t remember the exact model) sitting in a used car lot on east 8 Mile road in Detroit. I cant remember the exact price but was cheep. Not so cheep that I could afford it at the time, But if I remember correctly it was somewhere around 8000 dollars. At the time I was driving my 72 Vega GT so it was probably in the early to mid seventies. Mercedes at the time were almost unknown to the average American and used Mercedes did not sell for much, even a 600. It was probably the short limo. I still want it! I had owned two Mercedes previous to this. A 1948 180 sedan, and a 1962 220 sedan. The 220 was given to me after it was stolen from an Uncle. The engine was blown and some engine parts were missing from whoever stole it. I found a Mercedes mechanic whose 220 S was wrecked and he sold me the engine and supplied the missing parts, and installed it for $350. I want it back!
If I had the financial means to be chauffeured about, I would certainly make the investment in this car… and in true Barn Finds fashion, would have the restored body mounted on an F250 diesel 4X4 chassis. You can’t put a price on class after all.
Wasn’t this the limousine of choice for third world dictators?
Steve R
Pull off the body, but leave the front clip. Build an RV on the remaining chassis.
If its stretched enough, then you have a 40′ motor-home with class. Ideal for glamping.
CanuckCarGuy now that’s snarkasm! LOVE IT!
There’s nothing more expensive. Than a cheap Mercedes
Except for a cheap Ferrari…..or Rolls Royce….or a cheap Aston Martin…….
My daily driver wouldn’t survive 40 seconds of
full throttle…..hahaha..It’s good to see that
middle east oil tycoons,and Opec executives
could flee at full throttle,for 40 minutes during
our little gas crisis in one of these babies..,just
a few years later.Some people would have
hung them in the streets.
If this is the same car that I looked at 20 to 25 years ago, for a client in the middle east who had over a dozen M-B 600 cars, this was a very rusty parts car back then. I can only imagine what the underside looks like today.
If a new owner needs one, I have a beautiful outer grill shell that’s available for a lot less than what the factory wants for one!
Now this one is a rarity! A SWB 600 with a partition. I’ve seen production figures from the total SWB 600, LWB 600 Pullman and the 600 Landaulets, but no figures with a further breakdown of how many SWB 600’s had a partition.
Who would pay anything for this cracker-jack box ?
The engine looks like it might be worth 500 bucks.
The rest needs crushing
Nada
Invite me to the crushing.
We will drink German white wine
I will happily join you, if that German wine is „Qualitätswein or Prädikatswein“, blanc de noirs.
At least there will be something of good taste available, besides those who come to enjoy the crushing.
„Ein Prosit“
Properly restored, it would be a primo money maker for any bus or limo company.
David,
Having owned a premium vintage limo service with Rolls-Royces and other specialty limousines, located in Washington DC where money was not an issue for many customers [see photo], I can tell you that in order to make money with a vehicle like this one, you’ve got to be running it almost daily, and it’s unlikely you would be able to keep it in use enough to bring in a profit every month.
It’s not enough to just offer it for weddings every Saturday, and sometimes a special night out for a couple, with it’s VERY high cost of operations and maintenance, it WILL be a money pit. Even if it’s in LA or NYC, it’s probably never going to make a profit.
And don’t forget, this car only seats 2 comfortably in the back area. Most people hiring a limo want seating for a minimum of 4 in the back area. Plus, most brides who want a vintage limo want a white one. If you paint this 600 white, all you will be able to rent it for is weddings!