Germany: The Magnificent Dachshund

In postwar Germany, U.S. cars were derisively dubbed Strassen Kreuzer—street cruisers—because of their king size. Last week in Manhattan, Germany's Daimler-Benz showed off a new auto that is not just cruiser size but more like a battleship. Spanning 20½ ft. from stem to stern, The Grand Mercedes 600 is the world's longest auto. It is also one of the lowest: less than 5 ft. high, it has the low-slung lines of a dachshund. Boasting all the latest engineering innovations (disk brakes, adjustable pneumatic suspension system, fuel-injection 300-h.p. engine), the 600 seats eight, including two on rear-facing armchairs, and sells in...

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