60 years of the 600

[BenzBoy]

A look at the 600, 60 years later.

Prized by dictators and pop stars, Mercedes 600 turns 60 – DW – 12/28/2023

It's a German automotive phenomenon that has cast a spell over the rich and powerful, everyone from John Lennon to Idi Amin to the pope. For 60 years, the Mercedes 600 has been making history.

www.dw.com

 

[ProfessorExperimental]

One for sale at the moment in Sydney. (SWB but still Grosser Genug)

Link to the COTW post

A steal* at 115k. Even still has the shot glasses in the back apparently.

*if you're wealthy enough to service all the air and hydraulic bits.

 

[Patrick_R]

Amazing iconic car.

I was always amazed at how everything was hydraulic on these cars.
Apparently this is why they never rusted

 

[abl567]

The idea to use hydraulics for the comfort system came from a dentists chair. The supplier of the chairs had excess capacity of the mechanisms so offered it to DB.

 

[Patrick_R]

Good insight.
But hydraulic windows?

 

[c107]

Good insight.
But hydraulic windows?

they are rather impressive when you see them in a video. faster and quieter than electric.

 

[BenzBoy]

I can understand the use of hydraulics. The Toyota Century has an hydraulic fan coupling because it is quieter and gives less vibration than an electric one. I have been very impressed with the smoothness of the Century to the point where I would like one - but no, I am not prepared to garage anything further at this stage.

 

[abl567]

I believe sound levels were the reason DB adopted the system over electric for the windows. And possibly due to the load. The centre divider in cars fitted with it is pretty heavy.

 

[BenzBoy]

And some more info....

How one American ruined the world's best car

It's an icon, beloved of royalty, celebrities and dictators the world over. But for one American, the Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman wasn't grand enough.

www.drive.com.au

Regards,
Brian

 

[abl567]

This post requires a content warning.

 

[c107]

That is hideous. who would pay EUR450,000 for that monstrosity, even if completed.

 

[Michel]

As they say: "Only in America"!

 

[ProfessorExperimental]

€450. Not thousand. Max.

As a modified car (and that heavily) it has no chance of ever getting german historic registration, and thus would be subject to ordinary registration and taxation requirements, and since its not Euro (what are we up to now?) 7? emissions compliant that means no Green Sticker and thus no entry to urban areas ("Umweltzonen") or even sub- (yellow) or fringe-urban (red) areas (Euro 6 and 5 respectively).

Tax would depend on what the current tax rate is: when I lived there it was about 20c/cc for a then-current Euro 4 car iirc. Euro 3 would be double that. Euro 2 double *that*, Euro... you get the idea. So say tax is 50c/cc now for Euro 7 it'd be €0.5x2^8=€128... per cc

OK it can't be that bad but it won't be cheap.
Tbh €807000 in tax every year is just the right kind of ridiculous epilogue to that car's story though. You can be *that* different, but you really, REALLY, need to pay for the privilege.

Might help the national health insurance offset the cost of long term trauma therapy for every normal car enthusiast who has to endure its presence...