Maybach represents the pinnacle of automotive luxury, style, reliability, comfort, and exclusivity. Though production ceased in 2012, the brand’s legacy continues to captivate automotive enthusiasts worldwide. This comprehensive guide explores the rise, fall, and enduring influence of one of Germany’s most prestigious automakers.
The Maybach Dynasty: Wilhelm and Karl Maybach
Wilhelm Maybach: The King of Designers
The Maybach story begins with Wilhelm Maybach, born in 1846 in Heilbronn, Germany, and his son Karl, who would later continue the family’s automotive legacy.
Wilhelm Maybach’s Early Life:
- Born into a carpenter’s family in Heilbronn, 1846
- Orphaned at age 10, taken in by Pastor Werner’s Brotherhood House
- Began apprenticeship at machine-building factory in Reutlingen at age 15
- Studied drawing, natural sciences, English, and theoretical mechanics
- Demonstrated exceptional technical abilities and work ethic from an early age
The Partnership with Gottlieb Daimler
Wilhelm’s talents caught the attention of Gottlieb Daimler, technical director at the Reutlingen factory. When Daimler moved to Karlsruhe to join Deutz company, he invited the young Maybach to join him. This partnership would revolutionize the automotive industry.
In 1882, when Daimler left Deutz due to disagreements over internal combustion engine development, 36-year-old Wilhelm Maybach followed him to Bad Cannstatt. Their partnership agreement was clear: Maybach would handle technical design, while Daimler focused on commercial development.
Revolutionary Automotive Innovations
Wilhelm Maybach’s Major Inventions:
- 1883: First stationary internal combustion engine running on coal gas
- 1884: Engine with 1.4-liter displacement producing 1.6 horsepower
- 1885: Incandescent tube ignition system for stable low-speed operation
- 1885: Single-cylinder air-cooled engine (0.25 hp at 600 rpm)
- Vaporizing carburetor: Eliminated coal gas dependency, enabled liquid fuel use
In autumn 1885, Maybach achieved a breakthrough: the first successful motorized bike test (predecessor to the motorcycle) with Wilhelm’s son Karl and Daimler’s son Paul. The engine featured two speeds—6 km/h and 12 km/h—with constant engine speed.
The Birth of Mercedes
Key Milestones in Engine Development:
- 1889: First V-shaped two-cylinder engine at Paris World Exhibition (17° included angle, 1.6 hp at 900 rpm)
- 1894: Patent for hydraulic brake design
- 1895: Phoenix two-cylinder straight engine (2.5 hp at 750 rpm, later improved to 5 hp)
- 1899: Four-cylinder Phoenix engine (5,900 cm³, 23 hp) for racing
- 1904: First six-cylinder car engine producing 120 horsepower
The “Mercedes” name originated from Emil Jellinek, Austro-Hungarian Ambassador in Nice, who raced under this pseudonym—his daughter’s name. On March 21, 1899, Jellinek won the Nice-La Turbie mountain race in a car powered by Maybach’s engine, cementing the Mercedes trademark at the Daimler factory.
Founding Maybach Motorenbau GmbH
After Gottlieb Daimler’s death in 1900, Maybach found himself undervalued despite his engineering genius holding the company together. In 1907, at age 61, Wilhelm left Daimler and partnered with Count F. Zeppelin, who was developing airships.
In 1909, Wilhelm and Karl Maybach established Maybach Motorenbau GmbH in Friedrichshafen on Lake Baden’s shore, with Count Zeppelin’s support. Karl led the company while Wilhelm served as lead consultant until after World War I. The company gained independence in 1918 and launched its first automobile in 1921, focusing on luxury and reliability.
The Golden Age: Pre-War Maybach Models (1921-1941)
Maybach W3 (1921): The First Maybach Car
Presented at the 1921 Berlin Motor Show, the W3 targeted wealthy buyers prioritizing reliability and comfort over ostentatious luxury.
W3 Innovative Features:
- Four-wheel braking system (revolutionary for the era)
- Unique three-speed transmission with separate pedals
- First gear (low), hill-climbing gear, and reverse—no clutch pedal
- Superior quality components and thorough assembly
- Emphasis on driving simplicity and safety
Maybach 12/DS7 Zeppelin (1929-1930)
The Maybach 12, introduced in 1929 with a 12-cylinder engine and automatic transmission, represented automotive excellence. Wilhelm Maybach passed away on December 29, 1929, having proven that automobile design requires integrated engineering, not merely mounting a motor on a wagon.
Created in 1930, the Maybach DS7 “Zeppelin” became a supplier of engines for Zeppelin airships again. It was considered the premier luxury car of its era.
Zeppelin DS7 Specifications:
- Price: 39,000 marks (equivalent to 1,000 average monthly German worker wages)
- Production: 183 units, all custom-built to individual specifications
- Each car unique, fully customized to owner preferences
- Recognized as the finest luxury automobile of the 1930s
Maybach DS8 Zeppelin (1931): Peak Engineering
The 1931 DS8 Zeppelin surpassed its predecessor with enhanced power and innovative features.
DS8 Zeppelin Advanced Features:
- Five-speed gearbox with two reverse gears
- Automatic upshift when driver released gas pedal
- Larger, more powerful engine
- Price: 40,000 marks
- Production: Only 200 units over several years
- Required truck driving license due to 3-ton weight (exceeding 2.5-ton passenger car limit)
German automotive journalists dubbed it “representative of the highest automotive society.”
The SW Line: Accessible Luxury
Karl Maybach introduced the SW line to expand the customer base. “SW” stands for “Schwingachswagen” (car with swinging axles), emphasizing superior ride comfort.
SW35 (1935) Key Features:
- Six-cylinder engine
- Simplified control system compared to Zeppelin
- Starting price: 13,000 marks (more accessible than previous models)
- Designed for owner-drivers rather than requiring professional chauffeurs
- Maintained premium quality and comfort
This innovation allowed customers to drive themselves without mastering complex transmission systems, democratizing Maybach ownership while maintaining exclusivity.
Maybach SW42: The Last Pre-War Model
The SW42, final model in the line and last pre-war Maybach, featured increased length and a new, larger engine with improved top speed.
Notable SW42 Owners:
- Dr. Joseph Goebbels (Reichsminister of Propaganda)
- Ernst Heinkel (renowned aircraft designer)
- Various high-ranking Nazi officials and German industrialists
- Price: From 20,000 marks
Pre-War Maybach Legacy:
- Total production: 1,800 cars (1921-1941)
- Survivors today: 152 pre-war Maybach cars worldwide
- Distinguished by exceptional technology, luxurious exterior and interior
World War II and the Production Hiatus
From 1936 onwards, Maybach engines powered almost all German tanks, including:
- Panzer III
- Panzer IV (Wehrmacht’s most numerous tank)
- Tiger tanks
- Panther tanks
- Numerous modifications and variants
In 1941, with the Eastern Front opening, Maybach ceased luxury car production entirely, focusing on tank engine development and manufacturing. Post-war, car production remained suspended—the market demanded different vehicles. In 1960, Daimler-Benz acquired the company, but 36 years would pass before Maybach returned to the automotive market.
The 21st Century Revival: Modern Maybach Models (2002-2012)
Maybach 57 (2002): The Driver’s Car
After a 60-year hiatus, the Maybach 57 debuted in 2002 as the first new model, positioned for luxury car owners who prefer driving themselves.
Maybach 57 Features:
- Deliberately limited top speed (luxury owners need not hurry)
- 5.7-meter length
- Price: From €360,000
- Designed for owner-drivers
- 5.5L, 543 hp engine
- Top speed: 250 km/h
Maybach 62 (2002): The Passenger’s Palace
Presented alongside the 57, the Maybach 62 offered extended length for ultimate rear-seat luxury.
Maybach 62 Highlights:
- 6.2-meter length (0.5m longer than Maybach 57)
- Spacious rear cabin with reclining seats
- Positioned as “car for the passenger”
- Price: From €430,000
- Historic Atlantic crossing: June 26, 2002, aboard Queen Elizabeth 2 liner from Southampton to New York in glass enclosure
Maybach Landaulet (2007): Convertible Luxury
First unveiled in November 2007 as a concept car, the Landaulet entered production two months later.
Landaulet Engineering:
- Based on Maybach 62 platform
- Fabric convertible top with electrohydraulic drive (retracts in seconds)
- Strengthened rear quarter pillars with tubular structures
- Price: From €900,000
- 6L, 612 hp engine
Maybach Guard (2011): Armored Protection
The final Maybach model, launched in 2011, provided high-level security.
Guard Specifications:
- Based on Maybach 62
- Heavy armor protection
- Weight increase: Only 406 kg over standard model
- 0-100 km/h: 5.7 seconds
- Price: Approximately €400,000
Maybach Exelero: The $8 Million Supercar
The Exelero stands as Maybach’s only sports car and one of the world’s most expensive automobiles.
Exelero Background:
- Purpose: Created to advertise Fulda’s Carat Exelero ultra-high-speed tires
- Debut: May 1, 2005, at Nardo testing ground, Southern Italy
- Top speed achieved: 351.45 km/h
- First owner: Rapper Birdman (Brian Williams) for $8 million
- Standard price: $7.8 million
- Production: Hand-assembled, extremely limited
Why Did Maybach Fail? The Reasons Behind the 2012 Closure
Despite Daimler AG’s efforts to revive the legendary brand, Maybach’s 21st-century comeback ultimately failed. Here are the key factors that led to the brand’s closure:
1. Inability to Compete with Rivals
Maybach cars lagged behind competitors in the ultra-luxury segment. While Bentley and Rolls-Royce regularly updated their models with new features and designs, Maybach continued producing conservative, albeit luxurious, vehicles.
Sales Performance (2007-2011):
- Annual sales: 150-300 cars
- Far below profitability targets
- Unable to justify continued investment
2. Massive Financial Losses
Despite prices ranging from €300,000 to €400,000 per vehicle, manufacturers lost nearly the same amount on each car sold.
Financial Impact:
- Total investment: Over €1 billion
- Loss per vehicle: Approximately €300,000-400,000
- Unsustainable business model
- Daimler redirected resources to Smart car development and partnerships with Mitsubishi and Chrysler
3. Failed Modernization Attempts
During seven years of production, multiple update attempts failed to revitalize the brand:
Proposed but Unrealized Projects:
- Maybach Crossover: Planned GL-class based SUV never materialized
- Maybach 52: Budget short-wheelbase variant abandoned
- Maybach 57 Cabriolet: Four-door convertible concept (basis for Mercedes Ocean Drive)
4. Collapsed Partnership Negotiations
Daimler negotiated with Aston Martin to create a new Maybach generation replacing the obsolete 57/62 models. The joint project’s Frankfurt Motor Show presentation never occurred, signaling the brand’s imminent demise.
Final Outcome:
- Management decided modernization was too costly and time-consuming
- Catching competitors deemed impractical
- Brand closure announced in late 2011
- Produced Maybach cars became instant collector’s items
Ten Most Famous Maybach Models: Complete Specifications
Maybach W3
- Length: 5 m
- Engine: 5.7L, 70 hp
- Top Speed: 110 km/h
Maybach 12/Maybach DS7 Zeppelin
- Length: 5.5 m
- Engine: 7L, 150 hp
- Top Speed: 161 km/h
Maybach DS8 Zeppelin
- Length: 5.5 m
- Engine: 8L, 200 hp
- Top Speed: 175 km/h
Maybach SW35/SW38
- Length: 5 m
- Engine: 3.5L/3.8L, 140 hp
- Top Speed: 140 km/h
Maybach SW42
- Length: 5.1 m
- Engine: 4.2L, 140 hp
- Top Speed: 160 km/h
Maybach 57
- Length: 5.7 m
- Engine: 5.5L, 543 hp
- Top Speed: 250 km/h
Maybach 62
- Length: 6.2 m
- Engine: 5.5L, 543 hp
- Top Speed: 250 km/h
Maybach Landaulet
- Length: 6.2 m
- Engine: 6L, 612 hp
- Top Speed: 250 km/h
Maybach Guard
- Length: 6.2 m
- Engine: 6L, 612 hp
- Top Speed: 250 km/h
Maybach Exelero
- Length: 5.9 m
- Engine: 5.9L, 700 hp
- Top Speed: 350 km/h
Maybach’s Enduring Legacy in Automotive History
The Maybach story represents one of automotive history’s most compelling narratives—from the visionary engineering of Wilhelm and Karl Maybach to the brand’s rise as the pinnacle of luxury, followed by its wartime transformation and eventual 21st-century revival and closure.
Today, Maybach lives on as Mercedes-Maybach, a sub-brand of Mercedes-Benz producing ultra-luxury vehicles. While the independent Maybach brand may have closed in 2012, its engineering excellence, commitment to luxury, and innovative spirit continue to influence the automotive world.
Whether you drive a prestigious luxury vehicle or a practical daily driver, remember that operating any automobile requires a valid driving license. For international travel, an International Driving Permit is ideal—and you can easily process one directly through our website.
Published October 08, 2018 • 10m to read
