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Maybach 1919-1940

1919: Experimental car as nucleus for the construction of luxury automobiles

The first Maybach car engine was the six-cylinder side-valve engine W 1, which developed 46 hp (34 kW) at 2000 rpm. To test it, in 1919 the Maybach engineers built a test car which also was designated the W 1. From a historical viewpoint, this marked the beginning of automobile production under the brand name Maybach – even though the people at Friedrichshafen had no plans at the time to manufacture motor vehicles on their own. The next development project was the 5.7-litre W 2 engine derived from the W 1. It already delivered 70 hp (52 kW) at 2200 rpm.

In a long-term test in a chassis from Spyker, a Dutch brand, in 1920 the W 2 covered 30,000 kilometres in a record-setting 37-day run. In the wake of this demonstration of extraordinary reliability, Maybach entered into a contract with the Dutch manufacturer Trompenburg, maker of the Spyker cars. Maybach was to deliver a total of 1000 W 2 engines to power the Spyker 30/40 (C4) automobile. But the Dutch firm ran into financial troubles and took delivery of just 150 of the ordered units, not even managing to pay for all of them.

1921: Maybach 22/70 hp (W 3) model

Karl Maybach now decided to go into car production on his own to utilise the large production capacities that were lying idle as a result of the cancellation of the Dutch order. The new car brand was ready to unveil its first production car at the Berlin Motor Show in September 1921– the Maybach W 3. The five-metre-long vehicle that attained speeds of up to 110 km/h was powered by the 70 hp (52 kW) in-line six-cylinder W 2 engine. The innovative features of the W 3 included a four-wheel brake system with mechanical braking power compensation and a two-speed transmission without gearshift. Gears were changed by depressing a foot-operated starting lever.

Designed for simple operation and thus high driving reliability and safety, this car targeted the customer group of "gentlemen drivers", as the manufacturer himself described them in his operator's manual. This term refers to those men (and women) who drove their car themselves rather than by a chauffeur. Maybach offered them a technically convincing concept centring around the engine: "The exceptional flexibility of the engine in conjunction with effective four-wheel brakes permits high average cruising speeds without having to drive at excessively high speeds," explains the operator's manual.

Like many other car manufacturers of the period, Maybach viewed engineering alone as the company's core competence. And so the manufacturer from Friedrichshafen left the fitting of a body to the chassis to independent specialists like Auer (Cannstatt), Josef Neuss (Berlin), Franz Papler & Sohn (Cologne) and – in many cases – Spohn (Ravensburg). In all, from 1921 to 1928 the company built around 300 units of the Maybach 22/70 hp, as the W 3 officially was called, based on taxable horsepower and actual output. Buyers appreciated the cruising qualities of the car, but some also used it successfully in motor sports.

1926: Maybach 27/120 hp (W 5)

As second model alongside the 22/70 hp, in 1926 Maybach introduced the 27/120 hp with a newly developed seven-litre in-line six-cylinder engine. The internal designation did not follow the system of the W 3 model with the W 2 engine model, instead both vehicle and power plant were christened W 5. This car was an early indication of Maybach's claim to leadership among the European manufacturers of luxury cars: "Indisputably, Maybach was the highlight of the show," wrote the trade journal Motor in 1926 on presentation of the W 5 at the Geneva Motor Show.

Initially the new Maybach was offered with the two-speed transmission without gearshift, familiar from the W 3. In the W 5 SG of 1928 an overdrive transmission with dog-type shift mechanism complemented the two gears of the planetary gear group. This solution effectively resulted in four forward gears, but still made do without a clutch. Now the 27/120 hp could travel comfortably over longer distances at a top speed of 130 km/h.

Other manufacturers also used the Maybach overdrive transmission in their cars – including Mercedes-Benz, in the models 500 K, 540 K, 580 K and 770 "Grand Mercedes".

1929: Maybach Type 12

All of eight years had passed since the presentation of the six-cylinder W 3 model when Maybach launched the brand's first twelve-cylinder model in late 1929 – a sensation in the German car market. The Type 12 was powered by a 150 hp (112 kW) V12 engine with a displacement of seven litres. The cylinder banks were angled at 60 degrees. Experience from airship engine construction also entered into the design of the V12.

Maybach advertised the new model, whose radiator self-assuredly carried a gold-wreathed "12" under the double-M emblem, as a "premium class car". However, Karl Maybach made only a few changes to the chassis of the new top-of-the-line model compared with its predecessor. The chief difference was that the 12 was slung a little lower, lending it a stretched look.

The marketing men positioned the Maybach twelve-cylinder car as an absolute top model for corporate directors and high-ranking political figures. Opulently equipped by the technology standards of the day, the car also had a price tag that matched the positioning – on a level with that of the large supercharged cars from Mercedes-Benz.

1930: Zeppelins for the road

One year after the presentation of the first V12 model, Maybach created another highlight in this segment. The Maybach Zeppelin DS 7 (Double Six, refers to the engine design), with bodywork fitted, was a luxury car that weighed around three tons and had a top speed of up to 150 km/h. Its designers emphasised performance and comfort. An example of this was the double overdrive transmission with suction pressure shift device – a remarkably ergonomic method of changing gears for that era.

The name Zeppelin stood for the airships of Count Zeppelin and thus simultaneously for top-flight German technology of world renown. Maybach deliberately chose this name for the top models of his Maybach vehicle range. It testifies to his skill in the marketing of a brand, but also to the confidence of an engineer in his own designs.

In addition to the seven-litre car, the name of the airship graced a second model built from 1930 onwards: the engine of the Maybach Zeppelin DS 8 had its displacement enlarged to 7922 cubic centimetres and developed a spectacular 200 hp (149 kW). From 1938 on it was also available with a seven-speed manual transmission whose gears were pre-selected on the steering wheel and engaged by actuating the clutch pedal.

Other exciting automobiles originated on the basis of the Zeppelin chassis, such as the streamlined Zeppelin DS 8 bodied by Spohn and shown by Maybach at the Berlin Motor Show in 1933. In all, around 200 twelve-cylinder cars were built – Type 12 (1929 to 1931), Zeppelin DS 7 (1930 to 1933) and Zeppelin DS 8 (1930 to 1939).

1931: Maybach W 6 model

Along with the top-of-the-range 12-cylinder Type 12, in 1931 Maybach brought out a touring car largely similar to the Type 12 on the outside and powered by the proven W 5 six-cylinder engine. This W 6 model was built until 1933, when it was replaced by the

W 6 DSG with double overdrive transmission (1934-1935). Altogether Maybach produced around 100 units of the two models.

The DSH model was based on a more advanced concept. The acronym stood for "Double Six Half" – the name moved it closer to the V12 engines – and represented a newly developed six-cylinder engine. The 5.2-litre power plant delivered 130 hp

(97 kW) at 3200 rpm and was fitted with a double overdrive transmission. About 40 units of this car were built from 1934 to 1937.

1935: The swing-axle car era begins

Whereas the design of the DSH made it a relative of the cars of the previous years, with the SW 35 model (1935) Maybach inaugurated a new era in the short history of this car brand. The swing axle (SW) car with independent wheel suspension was powered by the newly developed HL 35 3.5-litre six-cylinder engine, which delivered 140 hp

(104 kW) at 4500 rpm.

The SW 38, launched in 1936 and built until 1939, offered the same advanced suspension concept. Maybach claimed an output of 140 hp (104 kW) for its HL 38 engine, which now had a displacement of 3.8 litres. But the six-cylinder could also burn fuel of lesser quality without compromising performance.

Finally, from 1940 to 1941 Maybach manufactured the swing-axle SW 42 model. This featured a 140-hp six-cylinder engine, whose displacement meanwhile had increased to 4.2 litres. Among the 900 or so vehicles of the SW family, with their bodies made by different coachbuilders, two SW 42 cars stand out: after the Second World War these imposing one-offs were furnished with modern three-box bodies and served as company cars for the top management of Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH.

Luxury car with the majestic-sounding name "Zeppelin"

In his constant quest to preserve the technical superiority of his brand, Karl Maybach starts work on a twelve-cylinder car engine towards the end of the 1920s. The positive experience gained from using the multi-cylinder powerplants in airships spurs him on. Development is completed in 1929 with the unveiling of the Maybach "Type 12" featuring a 150-hp seven-litre V12 engine. This is the precursor to the legendary Maybach "Zeppelin" DS 7 launched in mid-1930, which is fitted with the same powerplant and a twin overdrive transmission. The DS 8 variant comes out in 1931, drawing a peak output of 200 hp from its displacement of eight litres.

The "Zeppelin" is available as a saloon, sports cabriolet and open-top touring car. All variants offered boundless interior space to relax in, whilst the comfortable leather seats are more like club armchairs with their soft upholstery. The on-road performance of this top-of-the-line car is equally impressive. It has a long 3735-millimetre wheelbase and is very heavy, but rigid axles connected to long semi-elliptic springs allowed it to glide along almost nimbly. Hydraulic, double-acting shock absorbers further enhance the ride comfort. To move off, drivers still need the clutch, but thereafter they only have to operate two small levers in the middle of the steering wheel in order to change through the four gears of the planetary-gear transmission – without having to use the clutch. Neutral, 1a or reverse can be engaged using the pre-selection hand lever in the centre of the car.

The worm-and-nut steering, which is not power assisted, is surprisingly light given the 3-ton weight of this rather grand car. The massive drum brakes are operated by cable, and offer even and effective deceleration thanks to a sophisticated lever system. A vacuum-powered assistance system keeps the power required to operate the brakes within reasonable limits. In short, the "Zeppelin" represents the ultimate in motorised luxury. The same has to be said though of the Saloon's price tag of up to 36,000 marks, enough to buy three detached houses at the start of the 1930s.

Wilhelm Maybach is still alive to see the celebrated flagship model take shape, but does not survive to witness the car's launch. He passes away in December 1929. A total of only 183 units are sold of the legendary "Zeppelin" in its DS 7 and DS 8 versions.

Maybach Zeppelin: Luxury Limousine dating from 1930.

Pre-war

1938 Maybach SW 38

1919 Maybach W1: Test car based on a BMW chassis

1921 Maybach W3: First Maybach, shown at Berlin Motor Show. Featured a 70 hp (52 kW) 5.7L inline six.

1926 Maybach W5: 7L inline six, 120 hp (89 kW)

1929 Maybach 12: V12 precursor to DS7/8

1930 Maybach DSH: Doppel-Sechs-Halbe ("half a twelve cylinder") 1930–37

1930 Maybach DS7 Zeppelin: 7L V12, 150 hp (112 kW)

1931 Maybach W6: Same engine as W5, longer wheelbase. 1931–33

1931 Maybach DS8 Zeppelin: 8L V12, 200 hp (150 kW)

1934 Maybach W6 DSG: Featuring a twin overdrive transmission system.

1935 Maybach SW35: 3.5L 140 hp (104 kW) I6

1936 Maybach SW38: 3.8L 140 hp (104 kW) I6

1939 Maybach SW42: 4.2L 140 hp (104 kW) I6

1945 Maybach JW61: 3.8L 145 hp (108 kW) I6

Engines

Maybach HL120

Maybach HL116

Maybach HL210

Maybach HL230

Post-revival

Maybach Exelero at the Concours d'Elegance

2002 Maybach 57 and 62

2005 Maybach Exelero (prototype shown at the IAA in Frankfurt)

2005 Maybach 57S (the S standing for Special rather than Sport)

2006 Maybach 62S

2007 Maybach 62 Landaulet

2009 Maybach 57 Zeppelin and Maybach 62 Zeppelin

2011 Maybach Guard

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