MAYBACH ZEPPELIN – year 1937

Manufacturer: Maybach Motorenbau GmbH, Friedrichshafen, Germany.

Wilhelm Maybach, Daimler's associate and creator of the first Mercedes car, he had extensive experience in building high-power cars and multi-cylinder engines.

W 1909 r. he moved to Friedrichshafen, a town located on the shores of Lake Constance, where, together with his son Karol, he established his own factory - Maybach Motorenbau GmbH. It was a sister company of Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH, whose wheelhouse was recognized by all countries involved in air navigation.

Initially, Maybach wanted to produce engines for other car manufacturers. They were supplied, among others, by the Dutch brand Spyker.

He built his first car at the end 1921 r. It was the W model 3 with a 6-cylinder in-line engine of power 53 kW (72 KM). The two-speed planetary gearbox for this model was developed in cooperation with the gear factory ZF Friedrichshafen. After the W 3 the W model was created 5. The engine's displacement was increased to 7 liters and developed power 88,3 kW (120 KM).

Maybach only built super-luxury cars, known for their large engines and special bodies, most often performed by Karosserienfabrik Spolm.

One of the largest German cars was built by Maybach in the 1930s, as type DS 8, later called Zeppelin. Production quality, The driving properties and driving comfort of this model could only be compared with the Rolls-Royce cars; 12-V-cylinder engine with displacement 7977 cm3 developed a power of 148kW (200 KM). The ZF-Maybach planetary gearbox had 8 gears and as a curiosity, thanks to pre-selection, four reverse gears.

Wilhelm Maybach died in Canstatt in 1929 r. W 1960 r. his company was taken over by Daimler-Benz.