When it comes to iconic cars that capture the essence of an intended quality – in this case, outright luxury – the Grosser Mercedes is one of the undisputed champs of its category. The 1969 600 SWB seen here is the kind of car that was almost instantly accepted by extremely wealthy individuals of every culture as the benchmark for which their own personal success and that of others would be judged, and they remain quite valuable today. Find this example that has been in long-term family ownership here on eBay with bidding to $48K and the reserve unmet.
The seller notes this example has been in continuous service since 1969 with just one repaint in the mid-1980s. When you see a car described as being “in service”, it automatically conjures up images as one of three sedans parked just off to the side of the stairs leading into the estate, ready to fire up and load passengers at a moment’s notice. For a vehicle as complicated as the 600, however, continuous service is likely one of the best things you’ll read in a description for one being sold.
That being said, there were technically two versions of the 600, with this one noted as the short wheelbase version. The long wheelbase, or LWB, was more like a traditional limo inside with a center divider offering rear seat passengers privacy from the driver. Still, if given the chance, I suspect the ilk of 600 owners preferred being driven than driving in most instances. As mentioned earlier, these are not the kind of vehicle you want to have sit – a hydraulic pressure system powered many features, from the windows to self-closing doors, and can be a nightmare to sort out correctly.
The 600 also featured a complex air suspension system (recently upgraded with new bags) that delivered outstanding handling and ride quality, but is also notoriously fiddly to sort if left to sit idle for decades. Thankfully, this example clearly looks to have avoided the fate that has befallen numerous others of being parked when one of these expensive systems failed. The M100 V8 is a sweetheart of an engine, and given the overall presentation on display here, I’m not surprised to see the reserve yet unmet for this SWB 600 sedan.
I don’t think there is another car on the planet that was built to the level of quality and sophistication that this car has. MB said let’s build the best car the world has ever known and we don’t give a damn if we loose money on every one sold! Hydraulic window regulators and switches! There is only a handful of technicians who understand and can work on one of these. You need the financial reserves equal to the selling price in order to keep this car “in-service”. I would love to have a go at working on one though.
Late 40’s and early 50’s cars had hydraulic windows too, most companies moved away from them because electric window motors are better, I always found these to be massively complex and massively overrated and pretty ugly too…..and they cost way too many reichmarks to keep running.
Maybe if I was Idi Amin or Pope Paul VI……
Both “dignitaries” you mention are long dead..
Wow you’re like a regular Wikipedia……
Yeah they cost money to maintain/run but so does the equivalents.. RR, Caddies etc.. and if you knwo what you are doing – they are not that bad compared to similar vehicles.. but yes.. if compared tot eh everyday Beetle of course they are..
The Imbesi family are responsible for the popularity of 7up
If they are Imbev they are the richest beverage company in the world ! (i.e. Budweiser)
Wow! What a boat! It is hard to find luxury sedans like this anymore. Even though I have never considered myself a MB person, I have always like the styling. Over the years, I’ve heard many negative comments about engines and lack of performance. Then, I realized they were trying to compare a luxury sedan to a race car. Nope. Ain’t happenin’ ! Just not adding up. Okay, so Ford finally beat Ferrari…for a while. Back to the Benz… This is a lovely car and would be a fine addition to the correct stable. (Pardon the comparison)
The difficulty level of these hydraulic and pneumatic system on these cars are not nearly as difficult as they are made out to be, not even close.
I was hitchhiking and got picked up in a maroon SWB when I was a teenager. It even had side curtains in the back. Turned out to be other kids riding in what they said was ones fathers car. They were from Saddle River NJ…
A good friend left for Europe for month and handed me the keys to his 600 and told me to drive it every day. I was in San Francisco at the time, and there was nothing like going gracefully up and down those hills ( the City was beautiful then; now it’s a mess) and using to do mundane errands as well as one trip to Los Angeles. I’ve never forgotten it. I have no room for one now, even if I could afford it. Eigil’s comment regarding complications with the car are quite true; there’s a lot of hysteria surrounding the difficulties involved. As long as I had it the car was trouble free, and that’s not to say that nothing would ever come to grief; the person who said that all you need was a mechanic who understood the car is quite right. My friend had a French mechanic trained by Daimler and the servicing issues disappeared. Somebody buy this and make sure you have the funds to take care of it. If you don’t have a servicing facility or don’t know where one is get in touch with the Owner’s Club and they will give you good guidance. If you can’t address the servicing needs or think you can do them in your garage, don’t buy the car.
One of the “rich kids” in college had a hand-me-down one in silver… we kids thrashed that thing! I recall the speedometer hitting 120 late one night on I-30 between Dallas and Fort Worth… we were home in record time.
These MB 600 series define their term “The best of nothing” is so true! I was lucky to have ridden on one and worked on two! Personally these were truly OLD WORLD charms and opulent. As for the hydraulics, they weren’t all that complicated once you have the drawing/blueprints. I’m not sure if one can find replacement parts for them now? I liked the big 6.3 litre V-8! If I had the extra change I’d go for it, sine I know how to repair the “beauties” The only issue I’d have is, can I afford the parts if I can afford to buy it? This dilemma came to my attention recently. I was pumping gas in my car at one of these convenience stores-a.k.a. I call it “Dr. Bombay” gas! I saw an Asian lady driving up in a MB Maybach and got some premium, I politely asked her why she didn’t buy the name brand one? She was pretty honest in saying that, she can afford the car and maintenance cost but the gas was eating her alive! I told her not to let the cheap premium fuel here and ruin her megabucks car and suggested at least put 1 tank of the good gas for every 3! So far I have seen her again. So should I go ahead and blow kid’s college education for my dream/nightmare car? Y’all input is appreciated!
Back in the mid 1980s when I was about 25 I was in Cow Hollow in San Francisco doing something I don’t remember what and started a conversation with another guy there sitting in the backseat of one of these with the door open. He was well dressed and well groomed and naturally we started talking about the car and he was very glad to answer my questions. The more we talked the more I realized that he wasn’t much older than me. Could have been 28 or 32 but didn’t seem older. I was fascinated. I told him that I liked his car but that I would have preferred the 300SEL, the same motor in the regular sedan, a real sleeper. Of course he knew about it but he really liked the 600 so much so that he owned two of them. Two? I didn’t know what to say. Of course what I wanted to ask was how does a young guy like you acquire 2 MB 600s? What I really wanted to know was what he did for a living? I couldn’t think of a way to ask without sounding rude. Then someone needed his attention and I needed to go as well so we said goodbye and nice talking with you. Wonder what he’s riding around in now?