Yahoo Autos Armored Mercedes-Benz S600 Heads to Auction
Early examples of the W140-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class aren't easy to find with minimal mileage—and rarely are they armored examples used by royalty. As the W140 marks its 30th anniversary this year, the S-Class of the 1990s is now a collector's item, especially when it comes to rare examples from Europe's coachbuilders.
In a few days one such S600 armored and modified by Carat Duchatelet will roll across the auction block in the UK, showing 13,500 kilometers or about 8,388 miles on the odometer. It's a car that had belonged to the late Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Hamad Al-Thani, and apparently hadn't been used very much.
The W140 itself debuted in 1991, replacing the long-lived W126-generation of the S-Class. The new Mercedes flagship was a brutalist road yacht that its successors never quite managed to match for its imposing road presence or sinister looks. While base versions of the W140 used six-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines paired with manual transmissions, the top of the range was fully stocked with a choice of V8 and V12 engines, including the range-topping S600 with a 6.0-liter V12 underhood.
The W140 instantly became a status symbol for diplomats, heads of state, and captains of industry, among others, and as such the world's armoring companies quickly turned their attention to the new S-Class. Before Mercedes-Benz released its own factory-armored Guard version of the W140, companies like Trasco-Bremen, Carat Duchatelet, and others fielded their own versions of the S-Class, in addition to offering stretched versions of the car. Mercedes-Benz later also the three-row Pullman limousine, which became a favorite of dignitaries.
The auction house indicates that this particular S600 was originally ordered by the late Emir from the factory and then given to Belgian armorer and coachbuilder Carat Duchatelet to upgrade to a B6/B7 level of ballistic protection, which was the top level of protection available for passengers cars and SUVs of the time. Carat also added a few luxury items to the interior, including fold-out tables and a rear center console.
