Maybach Overview

Wilhelm Maybach and his son Karl the founders of Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH, started out as manufacturers of Zappelin engines in Germany. By 1921 they switched production to top of the line luxury automobiles, which they continued producing till 1940.

Wilhelm was the technical director of the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (Daimler Motor Company), the company has now come full circle with Maybach being owned by DaimlerChrysler and producing luxury vehicles once again.

With the outbreak of the Second World War, Maybach switched production to heavy duty military applications for the German military, including the Tiger and Panther Tanks.

By 1960, Daimler-Benz aquired majority shares in Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH and production shifted to heavy duty diesel marine and rail engines. The company was renamed Maybach Mercedes-Benz Motorenbau GmbH in 1966, by 1969 it was renamed MTU Friedrichshafen.

Current Maybach Automobiles 

2006 Maybach 57  MSRP: $332,500 - $367,000 City Mileage: 11-12 mpg   Hwy Mileage: 16-17 mpg	2006 Maybach 57
2006 Maybach 62 MSRP: $382,500 City Mileage: 12 mpg   Hwy Mileage: 17 mpg	2006 Maybach 62
Future / Prototype Maybach Automobiles
Maybach Exelero MSRP: NA City Mileage: NA        Hwy Mileage: NA	Maybach Exelero

Maybach Ressurection

In the early part of the millenium, 2002 to be precise, Maybach was officialy ressurected as a brand by Mercedes-Benz. At this time two new models were released: the Maybach 57 and the Maybach 62. With the numerical suffix representing the vehicle's length in decimiters. The most significant difference in terms of comfort between the two is that the Maybach 62 allows the rear seats to fully recline (see image below).

The two models are priced between $332,500 and $382,500 which is the same price point as its top competiors in the luxury car market, the Bentely and the Rolls-Royce. Unlike it's competitors though, ordering a Maybach is like ordering a Luxury Yacht or a custom made Savile Row suit, as the prospective buyer can go to the company's Sindelfingen HQ in Germany to customize every detail of their new vehicle, from the trim to the colors, to the trappings. With over 2 million options and the fact that each vehicle is assembled by hand, the owner is guaranteed to have a completely personalized one of a kind vehicle.

Maybach Historical Models

1919 Maybach W1 - Test car based on a Mercedes chassis
1921 Maybach W3 - First Maybach, shown at Berlin Motor Show. Featured a 70 hp 5.7L inline six.
1926 Maybach W5 - 7L inline six, 120 hp
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
1931 Maybach W6 - Same engine as W5, longer wheelbase. 1931-33
1931 Maybach DS8 Zeppelin - 8L V12, 200 hp
1934 Maybach W6 DSG - Featuring a twin overdrive transmission system.
1935 Maybach SW35 - 3.5L 140 hp Inline 6
1936 Maybach SW38 - 3.8L 140 hp Inline 6
1939 Maybach SW42 - 4.2L 140 hp Inline 6

The vehicles above amounted to a total production run of about 1800 units before the Second World War.