Rare Car Archive

Makes › Mercedes-Benz Germany › 600 › 600 (W 100) short-wheelbase saloon · Rare production · 1964–1981 Rare

Mercedes-Benz
600 (W 100) short-wheelbase saloon

Standard-wheelbase version of the Grand Mercedes 600 with central hydraulics.

IDENTIFICATION CARD · MERCEDES-BENZ 600 (W 100) SHORT-WHEELBASE SALOON 1964–1981
No licensed photograph yet. Photographs are published only when their licence permits it.
2,190BuiltFactory reported
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
2,190 Built
Years
1964–1981
Engine
8-cylinder 90° V; front, longitudinal; vertical · 6,332 cc / 6.3 LFactory: 6,332 cc
Power
186 kW / 253 PSFactory: 250 hp · converted
Top speed
205 km/hFactory: 205 km/h
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Not yet verified
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The short-wheelbase saloon was the standard W 100 body, a limousine seating up to six on a 3200 mm wheelbase, while the long Pullman used a longer chassis. It accounts for 2190 of the roughly 2677 cars built, and it combined a fuel-injected 6.3-litre V8, air suspension, four-wheel disc brakes and a hydraulic system that operated seats, windows, doors and the boot lid.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityRare 2,190 · Built1,2
Specification rarityNot yet assessed
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Total model productionshort-wheelbase saloons 2,1901,2 Factory production Factory reported

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

The 600 was unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show in September 1963. The archive records pre-series production from July 1963 and standard production from September 1964, with the last cars built in June 1981. The German list price started at DM 56,500 in August 1964 and rose in stages to DM 144,368 in May 1979, after which no list price was quoted.

Auction catalogues show the range of survivors. Bonhams noted that 323 cars were built in 1966, the year of the car it offered in 2019. RM Sotheby's catalogued two 1972 saloons in 2022, one with 3,355 miles from new and one with 5,267 miles, the second with a copy of a Mercedes-Benz Classic Center history certificate.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard 600 (W 100) short-wheelbase saloon.

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeM 100 / 100.9801
Layout8-cylinder 90° V; front, longitudinal; vertical1
Cylinders81
Displacement 6,332 cc / 6.3 LFactory: 6,332 cc1Archive gives a tax classification figure of 6289 cc.
Bore 103 mmFactory: 103 mm1
Stroke 95 mmFactory: 95 mm1
Compression ratio9.0:11
Valvetrain1 intake, 1 exhaust / overhead; 1 overhead camshaft per cylinder bank; camshaft drive: double roller chain1
Fuel systemmanifold injection, mechanically controlled; Bosch 8-plunger injection pump1
Power 186 kW / 253 PSFactory: 250 hp · converted1Rating: manufacturer
Power at 4,000 rpm1
Torque 500 Nm / 51 kgmFactory: 51 kgm1Archive states the value as "mkg" (kilogram-metres).
Torque at 2,800 rpm1

Transmission & drivetrain

Gearbox4-speed automatic transmission; planetary gear system1
Gears41
Gear ratiosI. 3.98; II. 2.46; III. 1.58; IV. 1.0; R. 4.151
Final drive3.231
Driven wheelsrear1

Chassis, body & dimensions

Chassisfloor assembly / steel unit body1
Front suspensiondouble wishbone; air-spring bellows, supplementary rubber suspension1
Rear suspensionsingle-joint swing axle with level control; air-spring bellows, supplementary rubber suspension1
Brakeshydraulic dual-circuit brake system with pneumatic booster, acting on front- and rear wheels; four-wheel disc brakes1
Steeringrecirculating-ball power steering1
Body constructionNot yet verified
Wheelbase 3,200 mmFactory: 3,200 mm1
Length 5,540 mmFactory: 5,540 mm1
Width 1,950 mmFactory: 1,950 mm1
Height 1,485 mmFactory: 1,485 mm1
Front track 1,587 mmFactory: 1,587 mm1
Rear track 1,581 mmFactory: 1,581 mm1
Kerb weight 2,475 kgFactory: 2,475 kg1
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed 205 km/hFactory: 205 km/h1
0–100 km/h 9.7 s1
Fuel tankNot yet verified
Fuel consumption 17.8 L/100kmFactory: 17.8 L/100km1Mercedes-Benz archive figure in litres per 100 km: 17.8 l (DIN 70030: consumption, determined at 3/4 of top-speed (not more than 110 km/h), plus 10 %)

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

Short-wheelbase 600 saloons are type 100.012 (3200 mm wheelbase, 5540 mm long), and the chassis numbers in the catalogues follow that type: 100.012-12-000607 for the 1966 car and 100.012.12.002131 and 100.012.12.002166 for the two 1972 cars. Engine numbers follow the engine type 100.980, for example 100.980.12.002268, and a Mercedes-Benz Classic Center data card or certificate is the document the auction houses cite to confirm that engine and gearbox are the original units.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    600 / W 100, 1964 - 1981 (Classic M@RS) Level A Mercedes-Benz Group AG (Classic M@RS, Mercedes-Benz Public Archive)
    • Units produced : 2190
    • Engine type : M 100 / 100.980 (Technical data)
    • Number of cylinders / arrangement : 8 / 90° V (Technical data)
    • Total displacement : 6332 cc (tax classification: 6289 cc) (Technical data)
    • Bore x Stroke : 103 x 95 mm (Technical data)
    • Compression ratio : 9.0 (Technical data)
    • Valve operation : 1 overhead camshaft per cylinder bank (Technical data)
    • Fuel system : manifold injection, mechanically controlled; Bosch 8-plunger injection pump (Technical data)
    • Rated output : 250 hp at 4000 rpm (Technical data)
    • Rated torque : 51 mkg at 2800 rpm (Technical data)
    • Gearing : 4-speed automatic transmission (Technical data)
    • Gear ratios : I. 3.98; II. 2.46; III. 1.58; IV. 1.0; R. 4.15 (Technical data)
    • Final drive ratio : 3.23 (Technical data)
    • Driven wheels : rear wheels (Technical data)
    • Frame design : floor assembly / steel unit body (Technical data)
    • Front-wheel suspension : double wishbone (Technical data)
    • Rear-wheel suspension : single-joint swing axle with level control (Technical data)
    • Brake system (foot brake) : hydraulic dual-circuit brake system with pneumatic booster, acting on front- (Technical data)
    • Steering : recirculating-ball power steering (Technical data)
    • Wheelbase : 3200 mm (Technical data)
    • Length : 5540 mm (Technical data)
    • Width : 1950 mm (Technical data)
    • Height : 1485 mm (Technical data)
    • Front / rear track : 1587 / 1581 mm (Technical data)
    • Kerb weight : 2475 kg (Technical data)
    • Maximum speed : 205 km/h (Technical data)
    • Acceleration 0-100 km/h : 9.7 s (Technical data)
    • Fuel consumption : 17.8 l (Technical data)
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  2. 2
    Mercedes-Benz Classic M@RS archive – 600 Level A
    • 2190 short-wheelbase saloons
    Accessed 2026-11-12

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