Maybach
Maybach
MAYBACH DS 8 ZEPPELIN
Various customs.
Quite simply, massive in the best Wagnerian tradition. You're talking about three tons of motor car (22½cwt of engine alone!), with a seven foot long bonnet. The V12 unit was derived from the engine powering the 'Graf Zeppelin' airship (the cars were built at the Friedrichshafen works) and produced 200bhp in the DS8, giving a top speed of well over 100mph. Mated to this powerhouse was one of the infamous Doppelschnellgang gearboxes (a mere eight forward speeds and four reverse), giving a choice of ratios from a 14 to 1 bottom up to a 2.5 to 1 overdrive top. Chassis entirely conventional and the vacuum servo assisted mechanical brakes had their work cut out. Styling usually restrained and dignified, mainly built by Spohn. Some strange, Jaray designed, streamliners were also produced, said to be capable of 120mph.