In the market for a limousine to be driven around in
(rather than drive yourself)? There’s any number of options on the market
today, from Rolls-Royces to luxed-up vans. But those with a more classic sense
of style may be more enticed by this old Merc.
It’s a 1969 Mercedes-Benz 600 – which was already
one of the most luxurious and stately vehicles of its time, favored by heads of
state and captains of industry the world over. But this is no ordinary “Grosser
Mercedes” (as the 600 was known). This is a Pullman.
Instead of riding on a 3.2-meter wheelbase, the 600 Pullman measured a stately 3.9 meters between
the axles. And that gave it plenty of room inside for whatever wealthy
individuals were to occupy its cabin, putting it (much like the modern
Maybachs) in territory otherwise held only by Rolls-Royce and Bentley.
While Daimler made some 2,677 examples of the 600
from 1963 through 1981 – positioned above what would become today’s S-Class –
only 304 of them were built as stretched Pullmans. That makes them rather hard
to come by these days. But this one is coming up for auction.
Resplendent in dark blue with a deep red interior,
this Pullman was purchased by its current owner in 2005, and has been subject
in the past two years alone to over US$ 40,000 in restortation and service –
including to its state-of-the-art hydraulic suspension.
