In Mercedes Benz’s world, the name Pullman is as exclusive as Maybach (if not more), being associated with a range of long wheelbase, exclusive, high-end automobiles reserved for the elite.
The name Pullman originated in the train industry and was used to refer to railroad sleeping cars in the US manufactured by the Pullman Company , and dining and lounge cars in Europe, operated by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Litswhile and the British Pullman Car Company in the UK.
Mercedes adopted the name beginning with the iconic W100 600, and throughout its 90-year history (126 if you’re counting from Karl’s Benz & Cie. Company), only five models carried the moniker – including the latest Mercedes-Maybach Pullman.
The “overengineered” W140 generation of the S-Class was the second model that came in the stretched, bespoke variant, available in both S500 and S600 versions, with or without armoring. Due to the model’s imposing elegance, most of the units were tailored after the requirements of each client, and acquired by government officials (for an undisclosed price).
So, it comes as no surprise to find out that the Bureau of Foreign Affairs of Shanghai has been using eight models until the latter part of 2014, having auctioned them off recently. The cars fetched between 500,000 and 630,400 yuan ($76,000 – 96,000), an incredibly low price for such rare units, albeit they were rebadged as Dynasty 1000s, after Shanghai Jinjiang Automobile Service enhanced them with a TV sets and refrigerators. Additionally, the buyers will not be able to use them in the city due to environmental regulations set by the Chinese government that bans any car produced before 2000 in Shanghai.
Car News China says the vehicles’ license plates were included in the sale (a new one can cost the equivalent of $12,000 in Shanghai), which explains the high bid. Uh, okay…
Pics via Autohome
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