An absolutely perfect W140 Mercedes-Benz S600 sedan, seen on a car market in south Beijing. The good old V12 was in top shape, super clean and shiny, and still standing on its original wheels.
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This sticker was very common on U.S.-spec Mercedes’ in period, so I suspect this S600 was originally exported to the United States too, and ended up in China later in its life.
The W140 S-Class was manufactured from 1991 until 1998. The S600 was powered by a massive 6.0 liter ‘M120′ V12 with an output of 402hp and 580nm, good for a 240 km/h top speed.
The W140 was first S-class that Mercedes-Benz officially sold in China. Sales were mostly to the government, big state owned companies and to expensive hotels, which were usually state-owned as well.
Today there are still a lot of them on the road in Beijing, but the V8 and V12 models are getting rare fast. These engines cannot easily pass the new environment inspections, so many are scrapped or sold on to smaller cities in the interior.
The beautifully designed V12 badge.
That was the nineties! A stereo system with a key code. If you didn’t know the code the system would not work, and was thus useless the steal.
The interior was as good as the exterior, as new! Loads of black leather and some tasteful wood panels. Everything original down to the luggage net for the passenger in the foot well. Note the fire extinguisher in front of the driver seat.
The V12 model had a V12-branded gear knob.
Lots pf space in the back. ‘Benz’ floor mats are likely after-market.
The license plate with ‘140’, for W140 I presume.
Probably the best W140 S600 I have ever seen in the capital.