A Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman is up for auction, the car you need to feel like a dictator

Some cars go down in history not because of their commercial success, but because they are linked to a particular type of driver. For example, in Arizona a very special car is going under the hammer: a very limited edition of Mercedes that, within that already very specific model, is even more special. It is the Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman, a car we have seen many times in images from the 1960s and 1970s as part of the presidential fleet of countries ruled by dictators.

This model was chosen by many heads of government in third world countries and other places where the political situation was somewhat complicated and not exactly democratic. Mercedes kept producing the model from 1963 to 1981, so there were almost three decades in which a total of 2,677 units were built, most of them in the version with a shorter wheelbase than this unit being sold next month.

Of that number of cars built, only 422 were made in this elongated form, and of these, 304 had just four doors, instead of the six that were standard across the rest of production. This means the car being auctioned belongs to a much more limited edition within a very limited production run.

According to reports, it weighs a massive 3,300 kilos, making it an extremely heavy car to move. For that reason Mercedes developed a 6.3-litre V8 engine, capable of producing 245 CV, with air suspension to make it more manageable and a hydraulic system to help the steering be more efficient. Something that, given that weight, is very necessary.

The interior was designed, we don’t know whether for the dictator of an African country, but certainly for a VIP passenger, since it features the most advanced entertainment technology of the era. For example, it has a Sony television and a Panasonic sound system. With this equipment, the passenger can enjoy a very exclusive and elegant comfort. If you want to feel like one of those somewhat problematic characters who lived very well, this is the model you should look for. Somewhat old-fashioned, but with all the luxury of its time. What do you think?

Via | Carscoops