1972 Mercedes-Benz 600

VIN 100.012-12-002010

• Matching-numbers 6.3-liter M100 V8 confirmed by Data Card on file
• Desirable Sedan with individual seating and hydraulic sliding sunroof
• Attractive factory Grey Blue Metallic (DB 906) over blue leather specification
• Equipped with numerous factory options including air conditioning
• Offered with original books, Data Card, and recent servicing receipts

Few automobiles of the postwar era embodied engineering ambition quite like the Mercedes-Benz 600. Unveiled at the Frankfurt International Motor Show in September 1963, the W100 represented an extraordinary statement of intent from Mercedes-Benz, conceived not simply as a larger luxury sedan but as a new standard by which the worlds finest automobiles could be judged. Its combination of immense performance, remarkable refinement, imposing presence, and almost obsessive engineering quickly established the 600 as one of the defining prestige automobiles of its generation.

At the heart of the 600 was Mercedes-Benzs formidable 6.3-liter M100 V8, an advanced fuel-injected engine developed specifically for the marques new flagship. Producing abundant torque with exceptional smoothness, it provided the performance necessary to move the substantial W100 with an ease that belied its size. Just as impressive was the sophisticated hydraulic system that operated many of the cars comfort features, including the windows, seats, doors, trunk lid, and available sliding sunroof. The resulting complexity was extraordinary, but so too was the experience: switches and controls operated with a speed, silence, and solidity unlike virtually anything else on the road.

Mercedes-Benz offered the 600 in two principal forms. The long-wheelbase Pullman was intended primarily for formal, chauffeur-driven use, while the 3,200 mm-wheelbase Sedan offered essentially the same remarkable engineering in a more manageable and distinctly owner-driver-oriented package. The shorter body retained the commanding character of the W100 while giving the car more balanced proportions and a somewhat more personal character, qualities that have made the Sedan particularly appealing to collectors today.

This 1972 Mercedes-Benz 600 Sedan, chassis number 100.012-12-002010, is a left-hand-drive example built to U.S.-market specification and still retains its matching numbers M100 engine per the Data Card on file.

Offered in an original and particularly attractive color specification of DB 906 Grey Blue Metallic over blue leather, a vibrant combination exceptionally well suited to the dignified lines of the 600. The factory specification also reveals an unusually appealing selection of equipment. Individual seating provides a more luxurious arrangement for the occupants, complemented by the desirable hydraulic sliding sunroof. Air conditioning was specified for comfort in the American market, while heat-insulating glass and a heated rear window further demonstrate the remarkable attention Mercedes-Benz paid to passenger comfort in the W100.

As a U.S.-market automobile, it was also ordered with English-language instrumentation calibrated in miles. Additional factory provisions included paint preservation treatment as well as export and shipping preparation, details that help document the cars original configuration and intended destination.

Taken together, the specification gives this 600 a particularly appealing character and today it remains a fine example of the type. The paintwork and upholstery both present well, while importantly, the car operates as it mechanically should. Offered with its original books, Data Card and recent servicing receipts, this 600 is ideally suited to a dedicated Mercedes-Benz driving enthusiast.

More than half a century after its introduction, the 600 remains an extraordinary demonstration of what Mercedes-Benz could accomplish when cost was allowed to take a secondary role to engineering excellence. Few automobiles combine such immense presence with such technical sophistication, and fewer still deliver it with the quiet confidence of the W100. This beautifully specified 1972 Sedan represents a compelling opportunity to experience one of the most ambitious and celebrated luxury automobiles of the postwar era.

Offers welcome and trades considered.