Mzee ni wewe: This dead Mercedes Benz in Ruai is 50 years old and is being sold for Sh3.5 million

By James Mwangi | 6yrs ago | 2 min read

The Mercedes-Benz 600 manufactured in 1968 is going for Sh3.5 million It has many of its parts intact and its engine completely dead. An interested buyer is offering Sh2.5 million, barely a day after its current owner advertised

How much would you pay for a car manufactured 50 years ago, and which ceased moving when retired Mzee Moi was still President and has since been condemned at a junkyard?

While you might think it ideal for weighing at the scrap metal dealer’s, just know that a Mercedes-Benz 600 manufactured in 1968 and which broke down 27 years ago is going for Sh3.5 million.

And what’s more; there is already an interested buyer offering Sh2.5 million, barely a day after its current owner advertised it online on August 28.

The Mercedes has many of its parts intact though the leather seats are worn out and its engine completely dead.

The car was sourced from a home in Ruai, Nairobi and Kenzi Murage, the owner, believes it was owned by a very prominent Kenyan who later sold it to the family.

Murage, a classic car enthusiast who is selling this Mercedes model, says Sh4 million or more will be needed to restore the car, meaning it will cost Sh7.5 million or more to have it on the road.

“It will take about two years to restore it. And this will involve quotation of what spare parts are needed, importing them and the physical rebuilding.

The buyer who showed interest is willing to wait this long,” says Murage, adding that, “Should the new owner need our services, we will rebuild it for him.

Some people want the classic, broken down cars back to their original state, others want to customise them, while some are okay with having them fitted with spare parts of other vehicles”.

But why is this car so pricey?

Mercedes-Benz 600 range included luxury sedan and limousines produced from 1963 to 1981 and only 2,677 cars were manufactured globally. The range includes Pullmans limousines used by presidents across the globe.

Murage says that only those who understands the prestige of classic cars know the worth of the dead Mercedes.

President Jomo Kenyatta and President Daniel arap Moi are known to have owned Mercedes 600.

The other Kenyans who own a Pullman include former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo and Mwangi Spike, a classic car buff.