This is a Mercedes-Benz 600 SEL Pullman stretched limousine, based on the W140 S-Class. I saw this great-looking limousine at a car market in East Beijing in 2017. It stood alone in front of an abandoned shop – seemingly abandoned. Happily, it seemed in reasonable shape.
The second time
When I searched for details about this car online, I found that it had been spotted in Beijing before. By myself, in 2013. At the time, I had just founded CarNewsChina.com, and I ran around the Chinese capital spotting cars without any break.
In 2013, the owner of the Pullman was still actively using it. Young and stupid as I was, I identified it as an S600 Pullman. However, the limo in the photos is based on the pre-facelift model; hence, it is a 600 SEL Pullman.
Flagpoles on the front fender indicate it was once a government or embassy car.
The Mercedes-Benz 600 SEL Pullman
The Mercedes-Benz 600 SEL Pullman was the ultimate luxury variant of the pre-facelift W140 S-Class. It was based on the existing long-wheelbase version of the W140, with an extra extension behind the B-pillar.
Size comparison:
S-Class LWB: 5213/1886/1486, 3139.
S-Class Pullman: 6228/1886/1486, 4140.
That makes the Pullman’s wheelbase exactly 1001 millimeters longer! I wonder why they didn’t settle for 1 meter. Anyway, all the extra space went into the interior.
Mercedes-Benz 600 SEL Pullman – the interior
Sadly, the cabin didn’t look as well-preserved as the exterior. But you can still see the old-school luxury and quality. Beautiful black leather seats and wood trim, with a seat-buckle-fool system against beeping.
So many buttons. Explain that to EV-drivers. I really like the fancy Blaupunkt radio cassette player with a mini equalizer.
The Pullman had a four-seat vis-à-vis seating arrangement in the rear, where four passengers face each other. The second row was for staff, and the third row was for the bosses. The second-row seats can fold up, like in the photo. The floor is a bit messy; it seems there’s some restoration work underway.
It was hard to photograph the third row because of the privacy curtains, but I found a small space to sneak through. The seats are wide and soft, and the legroom is enormous.
The engine
The majestic engine was untouched: the indestructible M120 6.0-liter V12 with 402 hp and 580 Nm. That’s enough power to waft around Beijing’s Ring Roads in great comfort. Mercedes-Benz mated the motor to a 4-speed automatic gearbox.
Somebody added an extra zero to the type badge. Well, the more zeros the better, right?
The Mercedes-Benz 600 SEL Pullman was produced from 1991 until 1992. At the time, Mercedes-Benz had already been selling cars in China for a few years, albeit in very small numbers, via a trade office in Beijing. So, it is entirely possible that this rare Pullman came into China officially. The license plate seems to support that assumption, as it is as old as the vehicle.
It is 2026 now, and as far as I know, the car has disappeared from the public eye. It is probably sitting somewhere in a private collection. If you know more about the whereabouts of the 600 SEL Pullman, please let me know in the comments below.