How one American ruined the world's best car

Underpinning this technological advancement was a complex hydraulic system that operated just about everything that moved – windows, sunroof, seats, boot lid, bonnet, doors, armrests, central locking – while the near-three-tonne limo rode on hydraulically operated self-levelling suspension.

A little digging around for scant information about this particular car. What we did glean from a couple of German sources is that this car, with Mercedes-Benz documentation showing the car was ordered on 17 October, 1970 by Playboy magazine. Bearing the build number 258, the 1971 model has a Fahrgestell Number (VIN) of 100014 1200 1811. That would make it, purportedly, the second Pullman owned by Hugh Hefner. That car was a black four-door Pullman with burgundy leather interior.

Rob Margeit is an award-winning Australian motoring journalist and editor who has been writing about cars and motorsport for over 25 years. A former editor of Australian Auto Action, Rob’s work has also appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Wheels, Motor Magazine, Street Machine and Top Gear Australia. Rob’s current rides include a 1996 Mercedes-Benz E-Class and a 2000 Honda HR-V Sport.