Bernd S. Koehling

Mercedes-Benz 600 W100: 2026 EditionHistory, Technology, Special and Coachbuilt VersionsA comprehensive illustrated guide to the "Grand Mercedes"Developed without regard to cost, the 600 W100 represented the pinnacle of post-war automotive engineering. Introduced in 1963, it combined understated elegance with exceptional technical sophistication and a level of craftsmanship rarely seen in a production automobile.
Heads of state, royal families, business leaders, and international stars chose the 600 as a symbol of status, authority, and refined taste. This extensively revised 2026 edition offers a detailed English-language account of the W100 series. More than 200 pages and numerous new photographs document the history, technology, and extraordinary variety of the Mercedes 600, from the classic short-wheelbase limousine to the Pullman and the rare Pullman Landaulet.
The book begins with a detailed introduction to the Mercedes 770 W07 and W150 models. These imposing pre-war automobiles were the historical predecessors of the 600 and embodied a similar ambition: to build a car without compromise for the most demanding clients of their era. A major part of the book is devoted to the remarkable engineering of the W100. Its 6.3-liter M100 V8 engine, self-leveling air suspension, and complex 150-bar hydraulic system made the 600 one of the most technically ambitious automobiles of its time.
The high-pressure hydraulics operated numerous comfort functions with exceptional precision, including the windows, seats, sunroof, doors, and trunk lid. What you will discover in this book: Historical background: The transition from the Mercedes 770 W07 and W150 to the post-war 600 W100 Engineering in detail: The 6.3-liter M100 V8 engine, its performance characteristics, and its role in the development of later Mercedes-Benz models High-pressure hydraulics: How the sophisticated 150-bar system operated windows, seats, doors, trunk lid, and other comfort functions Air suspension: The technology that gave the 600 its exceptional ride comfort and self-leveling capability Body styles and variants: Detailed coverage of the short-wheelbase limousine, Pullman models, and the exceptionally rare Pullman Landaulets Special and coachbuilt versions: Unusual one-off vehicles, including the Nubar Gulbenkian 600 modified by Henri Chapron and a modern Maybach-style interior conversion Famous owners: The role of the 600 as a prestige automobile for heads of state, royal families, and international celebrities Authenticity and identification: VIN decoding and data card interpretation explained in a clear and accessible way Reference material: Production figures, paint codes, interior materials, and important changes introduced during the long production run  This book is intended for collectors, owners, historians, and Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts who want to understand not only the prestige of the 600, but also the engineering, craftsmanship, and historical context behind it.
Bernd S. Koehling has written 23 books about classic and more recent Mercedes-Benz models. The Mercedes 600 recalls an era in which an automobile could still be created with one overriding objective: not to meet a price target, but to achieve the best that engineering and craftsmanship could make possible.