Confirmed celebrity owners of this model include Elvis Presley, George Harrison, John Lennon, Hugh Hefner, Elizabeth Taylor, Aristotle Onassis, Coco Chanel and Jack Nicholson who purchased his after driving it in The Witches of Eastwick. Harrison even bought Lennon’s old car when the latter moved to the United States from Britain, so he had two.
In Columbia, former drug dealer Pablo Escobar owned a LWB six door 600. This example was destroyed in an attack on Escobar in 1988 in Medellin.
Sadaam Hussein owned a long roof landaulet version that was recovered after the fall of Baghdad that’s now owned by the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles.
In television, a Mercedes Benz 600 limousine was used by Angela Channing, in the American television series Falcon Crest. Images of the car driving from San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge to the Falcon Crest vineyard were featured in the opening credits of the first four seasons.
The Mercedes 600 was also featured in the James Bond films, most notably in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and Diamonds are Forever. Kamil Khan is also seen leaving Sotheby’s in a 600 in Octopussy.
This model is a 1972 600 SWB and is luxuriously equipped with a refrigerated compartment and shot glasses between the front seats (it is said to be the result of a suggestion, or demand, made by Jackie Gleason), a sunroof, beautiful tables in the front seat backs, additional radio controls behind the passenger’s seat, and privacy shades for the rear windows.
The previous owner was a Forbes 400 member who took great care of the car. Under his ownership in 2012 it received new paint as well as servicing from Karl Middlehauve, the highly respected authority on the MB 600. In January 2015 it received a new full leather interior, carpet and headliner, as well as new leather in the trunk (although it was questionable if it was needed). The wood was also just refinished (not re-veneered) by Madera Concepts in CA.
I have a strong personal connection to the 600, since it was our family car when I was a kid and drove it on my 15th birthday back from the DMV after getting my learner’s permit. (Unfortunately, my father went broke before my 16th birthday and he lost the car – hence, my desire to finally drive one on my own!). Earlier this year I completed a 1,400 mile trip and it floated down the road like it was brand new, without a single hitch.
***Much of the information was gleaned from Wikipedia and miscellaneous articles on the internet!