John Lennon’s Mercedes-Benz limousine up for sale

A unique 1970 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman four-door owned by two members of the 1960s British pop group The Beatles is for sale in the UK.

The Beatles’ co-founder John Lennon ordered the vehicle in late 1969 – only months after the band’s famous last live performance on the rooftop of its record company, Apple – and took delivery in February 1970.

The Pullman is so-named as the ultra-luxury version of the flagship Mercedes-Benz at the time, the 600 series – the equivalent of today’s Maybach S-Class and could be had with four or six doors, a convertible or presidential-style Landaulet roof and up to eight seats.

Manufactured from 1964 to 1981, the 600 Pullman (codenamed W100) was known as the ‘Grosser’ or ‘Grand Mercedes’ in its homeland, where it
was used by the government and esteemed dignitaries visiting from overseas

As well as presidents, prime ministers and royalty, stars said to have owned a 600 include Coco Chanel, Elizabeth Taylor and David Bowie.

Elvis Presley supposedly owned three, including a six-door Pullman.

Lennon chose four doors and a standard roof with his special-order vehicle – chassis number 001580 – finished in white paintwork.

Under the bonnet is a 6.3-litre V8 petrol engine with Bosch fuel injection and a four-speed automatic transmission sending drive to the rear wheels, with adjustable air suspension for a comfortable ride.

Inside, Lennon ordered smooth black velour with woodgrain and black leather panelling, grey carpet and cream-coloured headlining.

He also had a Philips-Mignon record player, Blaupunkt radio and Pioneer cassette tape player fitted, the latter technology less than a decade old at the time.

What would be a rare vehicle without Lennon’s ownership – one of only 487 Pullmans produced globally – changed hands with yet more musical
notoriety.

The Beatles split up – announced by co-founder Paul McCartney in April 1970 – with Lennon moving from the UK to New York, USA, in 1971.

As part of the move, Lennon sold the car to The Beatles’ lead guitarist George Harrison, who already owned a short-wheelbase Pullman, also in white, which was sold at auction in 2021 for £145,000 ($AU280,000).

Harrison sold the Pullman in 1975 to Mary Wilson, founding member of The Supremes, who took it on tour with the legendary Motown group.

Wilson – who left The Supremes in 1977 – kept the vehicle for 15 years, before its next owner had it painstakingly restored by Mercedes-Benz in Germany.

Lennon’s limo fell short of its $US284,000 ($AU435,000) reserve price at auction in 2001 in London when auctioned by Fleetwood Owen, a company – according to Billboard – co-owned by Mick Fleetwood from the band Fleetwood Mac.

Enquiries about the start-studded Mercedes can be made through Tom Hartley Junior in the UK.