West Coast Classics are proud to present an absolutely exceptional example of this extremely rare and mostly all original survivor, apart from one repaint in 'Black' (MB code 40) color paint, of a long time southern California owner 1972 Mercedes-Benz 600 Limousine with it's original and rebuilt 6.3 V8 engine, rare factory BEHR air conditioning and sliding sunroof and original 'Cognac' leather interior! The 600 series was built by Mercedes from 1963-1981 and was one of the lowest production Mercedes-Benz car's ever built post 1950 with only 2,190 '600' 5/6 passenger SWB limousines (of which only 714 were built for the US) and only 487 '600 Pullman' 7/8 passenger LWB models built (with only 99 built for the US) and 59 'Laundelet' versions. In 1972 only 172 Limousines were built in total and 38 Pullmans. Supremely fast, legendary race driver Stirling Moss famously drove a 600 around the 'Brands Hatch' racing circuit in southern England with six passengers aboard and came within 5 seconds of the lap record for sedans!According to the information from the Vehicle Data Card and build sheet this particular model was born with the following factory installed options:462 Tunis Beige Metallic250 Cognac Leather401 Single Front Seats461 Sliding Roof Hydraulic491 US Version524 Paint Coast Preservation580 Behr Air Conditioner669 Packed for ShipmentOptions which have since been added:238 Halogen Fog Lamps, Crystal Clear US Version551 Ivory Steering Wheel630 Radial Ply Tires900 Flagpole Left901 Flagpole RightThis ultimate Mercedes-Benz incorporated fuel injection, overhead camshaft engine, air suspension and shock absorbers adjustment, disc brakes on all four wheels, automatic four speed transmission and power steering, central vacuum locking system for the doors and luggage compartment, adjustable steering wheel and two separate heating and ventilating systems. It was a truly a majestic car of the highest order and an honorable descendant of the distinctive Mercedes automobiles of former years.This particular example has been repainted 'Black' from it's original factory 'Tunis Beige' color and is in very fine condition throughout. The original 'Cognac' leather interior is in simply stunning condition as is the 'Rosewood' burled walnut, original carpets with factory mats, all the original gauges, knobs and dials are all in a virtual time warp and there are no signs of any damage from the elements. The car boasts its original factory manuals and brochures, factory 'Becker Grand Prix AM/FM radio, flasks and shot glasses, power steering and original working factory BEHR air conditioning and power sliding sunroof and this rust and accident free example would prove a worthy classic addition to any serious collection.We only recently acquired the car from the estate of a long time southern California owner who had purchased the car with 104K miles in the year 2003 and who had kept the car garage covered and who was a long time member of the renown 'M100 Group' of enthusiasts who are "dedicated to the preservation of the M100 powered cars; the Mercedes 600, 6.3 amp; 6.9 automobiles"! The owner was a very well known participant in M100 events and rallies and his car was painstakingly restored and maintained by him as required over his years of ownership with virtually every conceivable issue that was not up to par being fixed or replaced with OEM parts primarily by the renown M100 specialist Peter Krausert of 'Herr 600' in Costa Mesa, CA and we have a suitcase and large container full of receipts and notes pertaining to the history of these repairs and fixes showing literally tens of thousands of dollars in receipts being spent on this particular car's preventive and required maintenance, including both cosmetic and mechanical. It is a superbly comprehensive file like none other we have ever seen in our long history of sales.It should come as no surprise that the 600 was in an exclusive territory of only those who could afford the very best, and who were fortunate if they could even obtain one of these rare imports from their local Mercedes Benz dealer, such was the exclusivity and demand of this amazing motorcar. Hand built with generously applied chrome fittings, combined with the finest natural materials available, provide an unmatched ambiance of luxury and wealth in its lavishly appointed interior, with fine ROSER leather, exquisite 'Rosewood' burl wood and chrome plated fittings abound, including for example even the door edges; the standard of craftsmanship apparent everywhere on this car is nothing short of astonishing in these hand-built Mercedes luxury cars. This particular car still boasts it's almost completely original interior including original 'Becker' radio, an Ivory steering wheel, 'Cognac' leather and wood with rear seatback picnic tables and stored shot glasses and flasks and original factory air conditioning and sunroof!This car must be seen to be believed and driven to be fully appreciated - in summary, this must be one of the finest, to say nothing of one of the rarest example's left available of a mostly all original 1972 Mercedes Benz 600 5/6 passenger Limousine with recent full service history showing absolutely no expense spared in its required mechanical or cosmetic restoration; this is a worthy investment for any Mercedes enthusiast to add to their collection or simply a fine daily driver for any classic car enthusiast!The 'Grosser' Mercedes-Benz 600 was the car of choice for Popes, Potentates, Dictatorial Regimes and of course the ultra wealthy and connected for almost twenty years. Generally, the short-wheel-base (SWB) models were designed to be owner-driven whilst the long-wheel-base (LWB), often incorporating a central divider with power window, by a chauffeur. The first regular Mercedes model to use the massive 6.3 liter V8 was the incredibly fast 300SEL 6.3 sedan of 1968, the fastest production sedan in the world at the time.The 600 was introduced at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 1963 and came in two main variants:A short wheelbase 4-door sedan limousine with a 126" wheelbase for 5/6 passengers, available with a power divider window separating the front seats from the rear bench seat, although most were built without this feature.A long wheelbase 4-door Pullman limousine with 153.5" wheelbase for 7/8 passengers (with two additional rear-facing seats separated from the driver compartment by a power divider window, of which 304 were built), and a 6-door limousine (with two forward-facing jump-seats at the middle two doors and a rear bench-seat).The cast iron block overhead camshaft engine with alloy heads with a four speed automatic transmission was designed specifically to be used in the 600 and was intended to provide smooth, effortless operation combined with more performance than any other sedan in the world. The enormously complex chassis featured ai...for more information please contact the seller.
