When the Mercedes-Benz 600 was introduced in 1963, it replaced the Adenauer 300 and competed with the Rolls-Royce Phantom as the ultimate elegant carriage. It was a stunning design, with a new 300 bhp, SOHC dry-sump V-8 and self-leveling air suspension powered by a 2,200 psi hydraulic pump. This pump also provided power assistance for the brakes, opened the doors, and powered the seats, trunk, windows, and sunroof. Despite its size, the 600 SWB was able to cruise at over 100 mph.

The 600 was offered from 1963 to 1981 in two wheelbase lengths. The car on offer is the “short” 126" wheelbase sedan, which was the most popular, with 2,190 sold. This 600 SWB was sold new to F.B. Lathrop in San Francisco by European Motors, which also maintained the car. In 1980, Florida’s Harold Schwartz, who created The Villages in Orlando, Florida, acquired it from Lathrop. After Schwartz’s passing in 2003, the car remained in his collection until 2014, when Vintage Motorcars of Sarasota acquired it.

The current owner acquired the car in 2015 and undertook a mechanical freshening, including work on the air suspension, hydraulic system, and exhaust. This 600 SWB’s interior is thought by the consignor to be original, while the exterior retains its original chrome and has had an excellent repaint in its original color. This elegant sedan would make a powerful addition for a collector wishing to showcase a spectacular achievement by Mercedes-Benz.