Mercedes Benz 600 (6dr) Spotted in Pune !

praveen_sathaye · 20th April 2009, 19:52

Hi Guys,

Was riding back from Pune on Sunday and spotted this Mercedes Benz 600 Series - (6Door) model on the Pune Mumbai Highway around Talegaon. Awesome machine. have always been awed by this beast. This is a slightly older one, probably the W 100 version. Have also seen a newer version around pune.

Attaching pics:

ajmat · 20th April 2009, 21:28

Wow!

This belongs to the Poonawala's I understand. Ex President of India's

Cyrus43 · 20th April 2009, 22:27

PULLMAN!! WOW..And this belongs in the Classics section!! What a Stately car. Based on the Groser isnt it?

neeld · 20th April 2009, 22:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by praveen_sathaye

Hi Guys,

Mercedes Benz 600 Series - (6Door) model on the Pune Mumbai Highway around Talegaon. Awesome machine.
Attaching pics:

Amazing find

and a very well maintained machine.

zibby · 20th April 2009, 23:59

the car looks beautiful and also in a good condition. link below has some more pics of the car.

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/vinta...years-old.html (Pics of Pune vintage rally, 10+ years old)

karlosdeville · 21st April 2009, 10:08

Yup, that is the ex President's car. Was auctioned for a ridiculous amount many years back (had made national headlines) and bought by the Poonawallas. It has been spotted a few times of late on the road, which is great. One of 2 in the country, the other is I think ex-Iranian Consulate, Delhi regd, currently in Bombay.

harit · 21st April 2009, 10:49

Ahem,
has it ever occurred to anyone that this could be the third W100 in India, probably a recent import? Because the ex-presidential car was a Landaulet, should look like the picture below. If this is indeed the case then wow!
As the car is moving on open roads, was it necessary to cover the number plate? Just asking because that will help for identification.
The picture below is unfocused, only meant to show the difference between this car and the ex-presidential car.

Cheers to another W100!!!

hillram · 21st April 2009, 10:58

Thats a beautiful car spotted.

TRANSAM · 21st April 2009, 11:00

wow, they have truly kept this beauty well.

karlosdeville · 21st April 2009, 11:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by harit

Ahem,
has it ever occurred to anyone that this could be the third W100 in India, probably a recent import? Because the ex-presidential car was a Landaulet, should look like the picture below. If this is indeed the case then wow!
As the car is moving on open roads, was it necessary to cover the number plate? Just asking because that will help for identification.
The picture below is unfocused, only meant to show the difference between this car and the ex-presidential car.

Cheers to another W100!!!

Now the plot thickens. Harit says he clearly remember's V V Giri's car being a Landaulet, and remembers seeing the car with the Poonawalla's being so. I remember it being a hardtop, but subject to correction. Can someone dig out period photos of the car when with the Government?

wasif · 21st April 2009, 11:20

Guys.

The POI car was actually a Landaulette. The car pictured in Pune is the Iranian Consulate car.

It was in Hyderabad if I recollect correctly at the consulate in Banjara Hills. They then had a similar S Class.

karlosdeville · 21st April 2009, 11:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by wasif

Guys.

The POI car was actually a Landaulette. The car pictured in Pune is the Iranian Consulate car.

It was in Hyderabad if I recollect correctly at the consulate in Banjara Hills. They then had a similar S Class.

Now I believe this is the Iranian Consulate car.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/478493-post109.html

It is a 4 door, not 6.

So now which is which?

wasif · 21st April 2009, 11:44

This was a long time ago, when I was in school, don't remember if it was a 6 Door or not.

karlosdeville · 21st April 2009, 11:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by wasif

This was a long time ago, when I was in school, don't remember if it was a 6 Door or not.

You and Harit are sure that POI's car was Landaulet. We have pictures of 2 hardtops, one 6 door and one 4 door. So does that mean there are reportedly 3 such cars in India? Intriguing!

Praveen, can you confirm if the regn. number of the car you saw was 1600?

EDIT - For further clarity, here are pictures of the Poonawalla's 600 entered by them in a 1993 event in Poona, courtesy TractionAvant. The flag pole and pilot light on roof are present on the car pictured by Praveen, I am pretty sure they are the same.

harit · 21st April 2009, 12:05

About the Iranian 600. This car belonged to the Shah of Iran, he had several, many are still lying in hangers in Iran with other cars of his. However, one car came to India, probably as the Iranian Ambassadors car. At some point of time it was handed over to STC, and auctioned off. At some point a Sikh gentleman purchased the car, then it was lying in a workshop for many years, and again sold off. That car was a short wheel base model, 4 door sedan in blue colour and is still lying near Mumbai. And it is not in working order, so cannot be seen on the roads.

Now the Presidents car was a 6 door, black coloured car, the confusion is whether it was a Landaulet or a Pullman. The car now pictured on the roads in Pune is a Pullman, or let us say a 6 door sedan. But I was very sure that the Presidents car was a Landaulet which the Pune car is not. And now seeing pictures I would not bet on anything. Hope that someone having a good long memory backed up with pictures will be able to clarify.

20th April 2009, 19:52	#1
praveen_sathaye BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 58 Thanked: 41 Times	Mercedes Benz 600 (6dr) Spotted in Pune ! Hi Guys, Was riding back from Pune on Sunday and spotted this Mercedes Benz 600 Series - (6Door) model on the Pune Mumbai Highway around Talegaon. Awesome machine. have always been awed by this beast. This is a slightly older one, probably the W 100 version. Have also seen a newer version around pune. Attaching pics: Attached Thumbnails
	(2) Thanks

20th April 2009, 21:28	#2
ajmat Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 14,858 Thanked: 27,925 Times View My Garage	Wow! This belongs to the Poonawala's I understand. Ex President of India's
	() Thanks

20th April 2009, 22:27	#3
Cyrus43 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: London Posts: 5,019 Thanked: 221 Times View My Garage	PULLMAN!! WOW..And this belongs in the Classics section!! What a Stately car. Based on the Groser isnt it?
	() Thanks

20th April 2009, 23:59	#5
zibby BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Goa / Leicester Posts: 762 Thanked: 419 Times	the car looks beautiful and also in a good condition. link below has some more pics of the car. https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/vinta...years-old.html (Pics of Pune vintage rally, 10+ years old)
	() Thanks

21st April 2009, 10:08	#6
karlosdeville Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 11,976 Thanked: 18,275 Times View My Garage	Yup, that is the ex President's car. Was auctioned for a ridiculous amount many years back (had made national headlines) and bought by the Poonawallas. It has been spotted a few times of late on the road, which is great. One of 2 in the country, the other is I think ex-Iranian Consulate, Delhi regd, currently in Bombay.
	() Thanks

21st April 2009, 10:49	#7
harit Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,033 Thanked: 3,281 Times	Ahem, has it ever occurred to anyone that this could be the third W100 in India, probably a recent import? Because the ex-presidential car was a Landaulet, should look like the picture below. If this is indeed the case then wow! As the car is moving on open roads, was it necessary to cover the number plate? Just asking because that will help for identification. The picture below is unfocused, only meant to show the difference between this car and the ex-presidential car. Cheers to another W100!!! Attached Thumbnails Last edited by harit : 21st April 2009 at 10:53.
	() Thanks

21st April 2009, 10:58	#8
hillram Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 2,942 Thanked: 1,326 Times View My Garage	Thats a beautiful car spotted.
	() Thanks

21st April 2009, 11:00	#9
TRANSAM BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MUMBAI Posts: 705 Thanked: 247 Times	wow, they have truly kept this beauty well.
	() Thanks

21st April 2009, 11:20	#11
wasif Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Abu Dhabi (for now) Posts: 2,957 Thanked: 414 Times	Guys. The POI car was actually a Landaulette. The car pictured in Pune is the Iranian Consulate car. It was in Hyderabad if I recollect correctly at the consulate in Banjara Hills. They then had a similar S Class.
	() Thanks

21st April 2009, 11:44	#13
wasif Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Abu Dhabi (for now) Posts: 2,957 Thanked: 414 Times	This was a long time ago, when I was in school, don't remember if it was a 6 Door or not.
	() Thanks

21st April 2009, 12:05	#15
harit Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,033 Thanked: 3,281 Times	About the Iranian 600. This car belonged to the Shah of Iran, he had several, many are still lying in hangers in Iran with other cars of his. However, one car came to India, probably as the Iranian Ambassadors car. At some point of time it was handed over to STC, and auctioned off. At some point a Sikh gentleman purchased the car, then it was lying in a workshop for many years, and again sold off. That car was a short wheel base model, 4 door sedan in blue colour and is still lying near Mumbai. And it is not in working order, so cannot be seen on the roads. Now the Presidents car was a 6 door, black coloured car, the confusion is whether it was a Landaulet or a Pullman. The car now pictured on the roads in Pune is a Pullman, or let us say a 6 door sedan. But I was very sure that the Presidents car was a Landaulet which the Pune car is not. And now seeing pictures I would not bet on anything. Hope that someone having a good long memory backed up with pictures will be able to clarify. Last edited by harit : 21st April 2009 at 12:11.
	() Thanks