1966 Mercedes-Benz 600 Limousine
The 293rd Mercedes-Benz 600 produced, this 1966 limousine was commissioned by eccentric Armenian oil magnate Nubar Gulbenkian, son of Calouste Gulbenkian, and is reputed to have been the most costly road car built that year. Frustrated by the factory's refusal to fit a full glass roof, Gulbenkian ordered the car through a French dealer under an assumed name and dispatched it to Parisian coachbuilder Henri Chapron for bespoke modifications: a panoramic glass roof, a rear seat convertible into a double bed, hand mirrors in the door panels, air-deflector glass frames, pipe holders, a minibar, and a passenger-compartment speedometer and Halda Speedpilot. After Gulbenkian's death in 1972 the car passed by bequest to his Portuguese gardener, spent approximately three decades in storage in Portugal, and subsequently passed through the collection of José Mira before reaching its present owner.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold €342,500 (≈ $377K)
- 1966 → 1972Private saleNubar Gulbenkianpartial documentation
Purchased via a French dealership under a false name, then sent to Parisian coachbuilder Henri Chapron for extensive bespoke modifications including a glass roof and fold-flat rear bed.
- 1972 →InheritancePortuguese gardener of Gulbenkian's Cannes residencepartial documentation
Received the car as a bequest in Gulbenkian's will, then transported it to Portugal where it sat in storage for approximately three decades.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownJosé Mirapartial documentation
During this ownership the car was featured in a Petrolicious publication; only minor servicing and cleaning were reportedly needed to return it to running condition.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownMr. Sáraggapartial documentation
Most recent owner prior to the auction; car described as being in fine condition during this period.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- —ModificationHenri Chapron
After factory delivery, the car was sent to Henri Chapron in Paris for substantial coachwork alterations: installation of a full glass roof, conversion of the rear seat into a fold-flat double bed, addition of door-panel hand mirrors, air-deflector glass frames, pipe holders, a minibar, and a rear-compartment speedometer and Halda Speedpilot. Wood interior trim was replaced throughout with leather.
Work carried out circa 1966 on instruction from Nubar Gulbenkian following standard factory delivery.
- —Service
Upon leaving approximately thirty years of storage in Portugal, the car reportedly needed only light servicing and cleaning to be returned to working order.
Minimal intervention required despite the extended storage period.
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