Mercedes-Benz 600

Pope's Mercedes 600 Limousine Comes to the U.S.

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Events

As part of the 125th anniversary celebrations for Mercedes-Benz, a 1965 Mercedes 600 Pullman landaulet (above) custom built for Pope Paul VI will be on display at the 16th Annual Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in Florida on March 11–13. The historic vehicle is making its first appearance on U.S. soil as part of a featured Class of Mercedes-Benz 600s at the prestigious event. The 600 Pullman was originally presented in September 1963 at the Frankfurt International Motor Show and quickly became the vehicle of choice among the world's wealthy elite; in addition to the Pope, Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Hugh Hefner and Coco Chanel owned one. The luxe limousine was equipped with Mercedes' first ever V-8 able to reach 0-62 mph in 10 seconds.

This vehicle built for the Pope was specially constructed with an individual seat for the pontiff that could be raised and lowered during the car's procession through crowded streets. An elevated roof, extended rear doors, and raised floor were also fitted along with other special equipment such as bulletproof glass. Over two decades, the car was used by three popes including John Paul I and John Paul II and was returned to Mercedes-Benz's Stuttgart, Germany headquarters in 1985. It comes to Amelia courtesy of the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart where it is one of many famous and priceless cars in its collection.

Tags: Amelia Island Concours dElegance, celebrity cars, classic cars, Coco Chanel, Elvis Presley, Hugh Hefner, John Lennon, John Paul II, limousine, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz 600, Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman, Mercedes-Benz Museum, Pope, Pope John Paul II, Pope Paul VI, The Pope

Elvis Presley's Mercedes-Benz Limo Up for Auction

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, Celebrity Shopping

A 1970 Mercedes-Benz 600 SWB limousine (above), one of a pair owned by the the late, great Elvis Presley, will be on offer at Bonhams' Important Motor Cars and Fine Automobilia sale at Mercedes-Benz World in Surrey, UK on December 6. Estimated at about $230,000 – $310,000, it's one of only a handful of cars that the King of Rock and Roll ever registered in his name. Presley used the car which was based at Graceland for a number of years before giving it to a friend in Memphis. Restored to a very high standard in powder blue paint with a cream leather interior, it's an important example of an iconic motorcar that was much favored by celebs of the era; other VIP 600 owners included John Lennon, Hugh Hefner, Elizabeth Taylor, Aristotle Onassis and Fidel Castro. At one time, the front doors of the car featured Elvis' famous TCB Lightning Bolt logo (for "Takin' Care of Business") in gold leaf.

Gallery: Elvis Presley's 1970 Mercedes-Benz Limo