1965 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Guard (W100) Photos, engines & full specs

Mercedes-Benz built the 600 Pullman Guard for those who needed additional protection and had bulletproof windows and bodywork.

When the German automaker introduced the 600 (W100) lineup in 1963, the car became an instant hit among the rich and powerful around the globe. Apart from some Hollywood celebrities, kings and queens, businesspeople, and other TV stars, a few presidents and dictators ordered one or more of these models. The Serbian president Joseph Broz Tito and the Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos ordered this bulletproof version of the 600 Pullman. In total, the automaker made only 16 of these armored vehicles and one with six doors.

At first sight, the car looked similar to the rest of the four-door 600 Pullman vehicles. And yet, a keen eye for detail would have noticed the thicker pillars that supported the roof. That was because the vehicle featured thicker doors and windows. Despite the added weight, which was not officially disclosed, the car's ground clearance remained the same thanks to the powerful pneumatic suspension.

Inside, at the front, the W100 featured a pair of seats and a flat dashboard. Fronting the driver was an instrument cluster with two round dials for the speedometer and tachometer that flanked a column with several other gauges. Between the front occupants, on the floor, there was no center console but just the bulged area that covered the gearbox.

Under the hood, there was a 6.3-liter V8 engine with a fuel injection system. It offered a huge amount of torque, but unfortunately, a big part of it was reserved for the hydraulic system. The automatic transmission was designed to offer the best comfort when changing gears.