The Mercedes-Benz 600 was a large luxury automobile. It was intended to represent the absolute pinnacle of automobile engineering, and when introduced in 1963 had few competitors. Production began in 1965 after two years of ramp-up, with most styles built through 1972. Modest production continued to 1981, however. During this time, 2,677 vehicles were made.
The model featured many luxuries, including a complex hydraulic system which powered everything from the windows and seats to the automatic closing doors. The model came in several variants:
* A 4-door sedan on a short wheelbase, similar to a modern S600 sedan in layout.
* A 4-door sedan on a short wheelbase but with a power window separating the front seats from the rear bench seat.
* A 4-door limousine on a longer wheelbase featuring two rear-facing seats and a rear bench seat. Most, but not all, had power windows.
* A 6-door limousine on a long wheelbase chassis. This had two forward facing jump seats stationed at the middle two doors and a rear bench seat.
* A few of the limousines were made with a convertible top over the rear passenger compartment and were called landaulets. Production of this model ended a year early, in 1971.
* Two coupés were made (one of them as a gift for Dr. Uhlenhaut, the man that designed the car, when he retired.)
* One funeral coach (hearse) was made. This car, and the two coupés mentioned above, survive to the present day in the United States.
The 600 was so heavy that a massive 6.3L V8 engine with overhead camshafts and Bosch mechanical fuel injection was specially developed to move the vehicle. Adjustable air suspension gave the car a smooth ride and good handling over any road surface, although the car's agility was inevitably compromised by its mass.
Produced until 1980 in extremely limited numbers, this model had no equal in the Mercedes-Benz lineup until the introduction of the modern Maybach 57 and 62 models.
The 600's "M-100" engine and air suspension were fitted to the 300SEL 6.3 model in 1966, providing the lighter (and more affordable) car with more competent suspension. Upon the introduction of the "W116" chassis, a larger version of the M-100 was installed in the limited-production 6.9.
|
