The history of the Maybach automobile brand. History of Maybach History of Maybach
Maybach is a German car brand in the DaimlerChrysler concern. Produces luxury representative exclusive cars.
The history of the brand began in 1921, when the talented designer Wilhelm Maybach designed his first car, the W-3 model. This model was equipped with a 6-cylinder engine with a volume of 5.7 liters. and became the first German production car to have brakes on all wheels. next model The W-5, released in 1926, was already equipped with a 7.0 liter engine, which allowed it to reach a speed of 121 km / h.
In the spring of 1929, just after celebrating Easter in Kanstatt, Wilhelm Maybach suddenly fell ill and died two days later. The company was headed by his son Karl Maybach.
Karl decided to replace the 6-cylinder engine with a V12 with a displacement of 6922 cm3. For the first time it was installed on the DS-7 model.
A year later, in the middle of 1930, her heir was introduced, who received the prestigious name "Zeppelin" (Zeppelin). It was the most luxurious and at that time technically perfect german car 30s of the last century. In those years, car design elements were created taking into account the individual needs of the customer, so there were no identical cars. The model was equipped with a V12 engine with a volume of 8.0 liters. (200 hp) and a 5-speed gearbox, which in 1938 was replaced by a 7-speed one. It went on sale in 1931 for 29,500 Reichsmarks. Production volume: 183 cars.
The W6 was produced from 1931 to 1933 with a six-cylinder engine from the W 5. From 1934 it was also available with a twin overdrive transmission (W 6 DSG). Both options are longer wheelbase compared to W 5. Production volume: 90 vehicles.
The inexpensive DSH model ("Doppel-Sechs-Halbe" - "half of twelve cylinders") was produced from 1930 to 1937. It was equipped with a 5.2-liter six-cylinder engine with 130 hp. Production volume: 34 cars. Some variants of the models of this type were equipped with new aerodynamic bodies, which were later used for the SW series, produced in the period 1935-1941. It included models "SW-35", "SW-38" and "SW-42" with engines with a displacement of 3.5; 3.8 and 4.2 liters, respectively. These were the last Maybach models built.
Between 1921 and 1941 Maybach-Motorenbau produced about 1800 luxury cars. In addition to the produced cars, which were included in the factory statistics, from 5 to 10 cars for exhibitions were built annually. All cars were very expensive, and among them there were no two completely identical copies. There are still 152 in the world today pre-war car Maybach.
During the war years, Maybach produced exclusively tank engines (about 140,000 units). After the war, Karl Maybach worked as a French prisoner developing aircraft engines. In the 1950s, he again managed his company, which produced various stationary, marine and railway engines.
In 1961, the rights to Maybach were acquired by Daimler Benz, which in the late 90s decides to revive the forgotten brand. Thus, after 60 years of non-existence, the legendary brand is experiencing a rebirth.
In 1997, Mercedes-Benz showed the Maybach concept car, the main ideas of which were embodied in production models 2002. The Maybach name is remembered thanks to DaymlerChrysler, which brings to market the most luxurious sedan in the world - the Mercedes-Benz Maybach - a car that clearly demonstrates the latest advances in driving comfort, automotive aesthetics and technology.
double name car Mercedes-Benz Maybach did not happen by chance. This is both the traditional superiority of "cars with a three-pointed star", and a tribute to the genius automotive design Wilhelm Maybach, who developed the first Daimler cars and whose name bore the most luxurious limousine in Germany of the 30s - the legendary Maybach.
The new creation of the DaimlerChrysler concern exists in two versions - the standard Maubach 57 with a length of 5.72 meters and extended to 6.16 meters Maubach 62. Both models are equipped with a Maybach Type 12 engine (405 kW / 550 hp), which is controlled by a microcomputer and Made from aluminum and magnesium alloys. The working volume is 5.5 liters, the torque is 900 Nm.
The Maybach car is equipped with every conceivable electronics and is simply replete with technical innovations. Beautiful shapes, luxurious design, Maybach defends the luxury car brand with dignity. As representatives of the DaimlerChrysler Group say about the new car, the Maybach name itself sounds majestic and the new car should become one of the best representative cars. Maximum individuality, stylistic elegance, exclusivity and comfort - these are the characteristics of Maybach.
Car production is carried out by factories in Germany and the USA, orders for cars are accepted in specialized Maybach centers located around the world. Maintenance and repair of vehicles will be carried out by about 50 specialized service centers. Maybach vehicles have a four-year warranty that includes free repair and free Maintenance. Factory prices for the models are: 310 thousand euros for the Maubach 57 and 360 thousand euros for the Maubach 62.
Maybach is not for everyone....and will never be available to the public. Maybach is an exclusive, the demand for such cars has always outstripped supply.
Representation in Russia.
Wilhelm Maybach is a German entrepreneur and auto designer. As a society "Daimler Motors" made a significant contribution to the creation of the first modern machine. The Maybach car is now one of the best in the world. In this article, we will present short biography inventor.
Childhood
Wilhelm Maybach was born in Heilbronn, Germany in 1846. The boy's father was a carpenter. It so happened that upon reaching the age of ten, Wilhelm became an orphan. He was adopted for education in the house of pastor Werner. When Maybach was fifteen, he began to receive technical education in Reutlingen at machine-building plant. During the day, the boy practiced in the workshop of the factory, and in the evening he took drawing and mathematics lessons at the city school. Also, the future German auto designer began to study English and study three volumes of the textbook "Technical Mechanics", written by Julius Weisbach. The determination and perseverance of the young man were soon noticed.
Work
In 1863 he came to the post of technical director of the Reutlingen plant. There he met Wilhelm. Three years later, Gottlieb moved to the same position at Deutz, which produced stationary engines. internal combustion. It was headed by E. Langen and N. A. Otto. In 1869, Daimler remembered a hard-working, talented worker and invited Maybach to his place in Karlsruhe. During the meeting, they discussed the idea of creating a new engine, which was supposed to be more compact and lighter. Langen approved this project, but Otto opposed it. Many years later (in 1907), Deutz will nevertheless begin building cars - first cars, and then buses, tractors and trucks, but by that time the company will no longer have ICE pioneers.
own business
Not finding understanding with the head of the company, Daimler opened his own company in Bad Cannstadt. Naturally, Gottlieb persuaded Wilhelm to go with him. In 1882 their own company was founded. Maybach was engaged exclusively in technical design.
First inventions
In August 1883, Wilhelm Maybach produced a stationary motor of his own design. The engine weighed 40 kilograms and worked exclusively on lighting gas. At the end of the same year, its next version appeared with a power of 1.6 hp. and a volume of 1.4 liters. Along the way, Maybach designed new system ignition. In those days, in stationary engines, the mixture was ignited with an open flame. Wilhelm, on the other hand, invented an incandescent tube that was heated red-hot with a burner. And managed the process special valve in the combustion chamber, which, as necessary, opened or closed. Such a system ensured stable operation even at low speeds.
The pursuit of excellence
This is what distinguished Wilhelm Maybach from others. From the beginning of his activity, he sought to modernize any design and used new patents. At the end of 1883, another of his engines was tested - a single-cylinder air-cooled engine, which developed 0.25 hp at 600 rpm. An improved version (246 cubic centimeters and 0.5 hp) was developed a year later. Maybach himself dubbed it "grandfather clock", because the shape of the motor was rather unusual. A few decades later, historians of technology will note that Wilhelm achieved not only a reduction in the weight of the motor. He also gave it an outward elegance.
Hansom cab
Wilhelm soon developed an evaporative carburetor. This was a breakthrough in the field of internal combustion engines, since now liquid fuel could be used instead of lighting gas. And in 1885, a revolutionary event in technology took place - the Maybach engine set in motion a two-wheeled carriage. A motor bike (or, as they say now, a motorcycle) had a pair of miniature wheels on the sides to maintain stability. 0.5 HP engine constantly rotated, and the two-stage made it possible to reach speeds of up to 6 or 12 kilometers per hour. The founder of Maybach carried out tests in early November 1885 with his son Karl.
Of course, not everything went smoothly. A year later, Wilhelm improved the motor by increasing the stroke and piston diameter. The engine capacity increased to 1.35 liters, but during testing it constantly overheated. The use of a water cooling device did not correct the situation. Therefore, the invention had to be abandoned.
New engine
Further, Wilhelm began to develop a motor for the world's first four-wheeled car with a volume of 0.462 liters. Since Maybach and Daimler were in a hurry with the release, the engine was installed on a horse-drawn carriage. In March 1887, the first tests were carried out. A month later, a motorboat with this engine appeared on a lake near Bad Cannstadt. Wilhelm carefully collected and systematized the results of all tests, realizing their importance for future experiments.
Building a new car
In 1889, Daimler planned to participate in the World Exhibition in Paris. Wilhelm Maybach, whose quotes and notes about his activities were often published in the media, decided to build for this event new car. And she impressed everyone! Daimler-Stalradwagen was supplied with the world's first V-twin engine with a camber angle of 17°. At 900 rpm, the motor developed 1.6 hp. And instead of the previous belt drive, the wheels were launched by a gear. In fact, the author has developed a conceptual design. However, it was a commercial success. The car was built by the NSU bicycle factory. Its owners, Emile Levassor and Armand Peugeot, bought the transmission and engine patent. At the same time, under the terms of the contract, they were obliged to produce engines under the Daimler brand.
Gottlieb invested the money received for the patent in the creation of a separate workshop for Maybach. Thanks to this, research was carried out quite actively, and all friction with the company's shareholders against the backdrop of promising developments was smoothed out.
New inventions by Wilhelm Maybach
In 1893, the hero of this article developed a spray carburetor with a syringe-type jet. A year later, Maybach received a patent for the device. hydraulic brakes. And in 1895, his famous two-cylinder in-line Phoenix engine appeared. Initially, at 750 rpm, he developed 2.5 hp. Gradually, the design was improved, and in 1896 the power increased to 5 hp. The performance of the motor made it possible to improve the radiator of a new original design. Three years later, a four-cylinder "Phoenix" with a capacity of 23 hp was released. and a volume of 5900 cm 3. The motor was installed on a car commissioned by Emil Jellinek (Ambassador in Nice from the Austro-Hungarian Empire). In March 1899, he won the mountain race with this car. Jellinek performed under the pseudonym "Mercedes" (daughter's name). Soon it will become the brand of the Daimler plant.
change
In 1900, Gottlieb died, and Wilhelm's situation deteriorated greatly. Maybach, who gave all his best at work and lost part of his health, was forced to write petitions to the head of the company for an increase in salary. But they remained unanswered. It is not surprising, because the new management of the company remembered that in disputes with them, Wilhelm always took the side of Daimler.
Meanwhile, the process of technological development continued. In 1902, the Phoenix was replaced by the Simplex, produced under the Mercedes brand. A four-cylinder engine with a volume of 5320 cm 3 at 1100 rpm developed a power of 32 hp. Then a Mercedes appeared with a 6550 cm 3 engine, and for the then popular Gordon-Bennet races, a car was built with a four-cylinder engine of 60 hp. at 1000 rpm.
"Zeppelin"
In 1907, Maybach left the company, whose fame rested solely on his efficiency and talent. After this, the designer was fascinated by the idea of creating motors for the Zeppelin airships known at that time. In 1908, Count Ferdinand attempted to sell the LZ3 and LZ4 models to the government. But the latter failed. The LZ4 engines simply couldn't handle the stress of the crash landing. However, the production of airships did not stop. The main task of the hero of this article was the improvement of engines.
Having received the support of Count Ferdinand, Wilhelm, together with his son, opened the Maybach Motorenbau company. The firm was effectively run by Carl, with his father becoming the lead consultant. During the 1st World War they sold about 2000 aircraft engines. In 1916 Wilhelm Maybach was awarded a doctorate by the Technical University of Stuttgart.
Maybach cars
In 1919, after the end of the war, the Treaty of Versailles was signed. It banned the production of airships in Germany. Thus, Maybach was forced to return to the creation gasoline engines for cars and diesel engines for trains and ships of the navy.
There is a crisis in Germany. Many automotive companies, due to lack of funds, could not afford third-party engines and developed their own. Only the Dutch company Spiker agreed to cooperate with Maybach. But the terms of the contract were so unfavorable that Wilhelm rejected it four times. As a result, the inventor decided to start manufacturing own machines. In 1921, the first Maybach limousines were produced.
The autoconstructor worked almost to old age and did not want to retire for a long time. The German engineer died at the end of 1929 and was buried in the Uff-Kirchhof cemetery next to the Daimler.
Heritage
Wilhelm Maybach, whose biography was presented above, was one of the first to understand that a car is not just a cart with an engine. Vast design experience and engineering talent allowed the German to consider the car as a complex of all its components. Wilhelm believed that it was from this position that it was necessary to approach the design. And now, when evaluating the convenience and functionality of cars named after him (for example, Maybach Exelero), you can see the correctness of the German engineer's concept.
Even during his lifetime, Maybach was called the "king of designers." And in 1922, the "Society of German Engineers" awarded him the title of "pioneer designer". That's exactly what he was. A year earlier, when the seventy-five-year-old Maybach was no longer working, the first Maybach car was built at the Friedrichshafen plant. At the moment, the line of models of the legendary brand has expanded significantly. The most expensive car is the price of which comes to 8 million dollars.
Maybach is a German car brand that is part of the Daimler Chrysler concern. The company is known for producing exclusive executive cars. Maybach was founded by the talented designer Wilhelm Maybach in 1921, having designed his first W-3 car model. Until the middle of 1930, the company was represented by only one model - the Zeppelin. However, this car was considered the most luxurious and technically perfect car by those times. At the same time, there was not a single similar model: the design of the car was created taking into account the needs of each customer. During the war years car company Maybach produced tank engines. But soon the owner of the company, Karl Maybach, was taken prisoner and after the war he developed aircraft engines in France. In the 1950s, Carl returns and starts running his company again. Now it produces marine, stationary and railway engines. In 1961, Daimler Benz bought the rights to the Maybach. The revival of the Maybach brand took place only in the late 1990s. As a result of painstaking work in 2002, the most luxurious sedan in the world from Mercedes-Benz Maybach, serially assembled, saw the light.
An article about the most interesting facts from the history of the Maybach brand, the formation and development of the company, ups and downs. At the end of the article - a video about the Maybach Museum.
The content of the article:
The history of Maybach cars is ambiguous and interesting at the same time. Few people know how extensive this German company left a mark on history. Consider the most Interesting Facts from the biography of this legendary brand.
1. Personalities
The founder of the brand is Wilhelm Maybach, the son of a carpenter, orphaned at the age of 10. He grew up in a commune where the vicar who ran it taught the boys about engineering. Although the enterprise was not very successful from a commercial point of view, it revealed a young, gifted designer. So gifted that subsequently even competitors called him the "king of designers."
It was this factor that played a huge role in the development of the brand, and the talent was inherited by his son Karl Maybach, under whose leadership the company became famous all over the world.
Then fate brought Maybach with Gottlieb Daimler. Arriving in the commune with the aim of reorganizing unprofitable production, he considered the potential of Wilhelm and interested him in the design of internal combustion engines. After studying drawing science and almost 10 years of working together with Daimler, auto designers developed their first high-speed, but very light engine. So two legendary engineers teamed up to create their own, unique and inimitable brand.
Another person who cannot be left out in the Maybach context is Count Zeppelin. Thanks to the fact that he attracted experienced engineers to create airships and develop aircraft engines, they were then able to significantly improve the efficiency of their cars.
Wilhelm Maybach made the first experiments with internal combustion engines together with Gottlieb Daimler back in 1883. Then it was not very clear how and why to use a rather weak motor, and therefore they attached it to the bicycle frame. Thus, their first motorcycle saw the light.
There was a workshop in a former greenhouse, where engineers not only engaged in design, but also made useful mechanisms in everyday life, which allowed them to earn money for new experiments.
For the end of the 19th century gasoline engines were new - people were afraid of a strong smell exhaust gases, reacted negatively to noise, since the first motors did not have mufflers. When the novice designers began to start their engines, the neighbors mistook them for counterfeiters and even called the police. As a result, Daimler and Maybach had to prove that they were not involved in the production of counterfeit money.
Maybach gave the world many innovative design solutions for its time. Among other things, there was a honeycomb radiator, which increased the cooling efficiency of the power unit. Prior to this, engineers used a simple liquid radiator or air cooling. This led to frequent overheating of the motors, which by that time had already become quite powerful.
Maybach then patented the world's first jet carburetor. This invention gave a huge impetus to the development of car power systems. Further development of technology has led to the improvement of jets, and, accordingly, greater efficiency of power units.
The listed inventions are only a small part of the novelties that Maybach's father and son developed.
Not so long ago, German manufacturers produced a Mercedes-Maybach car. But not all motorists know that this combination has historical roots, and not just bought out by Mercedes.
The fact is that first racing car, dubbed "Mercedes", was designed by Wilhelm Maybacho m. This is completely his brainchild, which he created by order of Emil Jellinek. This car was produced at the facilities of Daimler, and in the future, the products of this plant retained the well-known name "Mercedes".
Wilhelm worked in the company until 1907, under his leadership all Mercedes models, which were produced in those years, and the developments were used even after he left the company. Therefore, the Mercedes brand is directly related to Maybach, even though Wilhelm and his son Karl went their own way, refusing to cooperate with Daimler.
After leaving the company that gave them the path to the automotive world, the Maybachs unexpectedly did not start a car manufacturing company. They began to cooperate with Count Zeppelin, who at that time was producing airships.
Here they were able to get a very interesting and responsible job on the study of the features of the use of airships. They had to have very reliable engines capable of operating in difficult weather and technological conditions. At that time, there were practically no motors satisfying such a request.
Airship manufacturers tried to install auto and aircraft engines, but they were not suitable for a number of technological nuances.
It was by creating engines for airships that father and son gained worldwide fame. For a very long time, the public inextricably linked them with imposing giant aircraft. Only ten years later, the glory of the creator of motors for airships unstuck from the Maybachs.
The return to the creation of cars occurred for a number of reasons. Here are some of them:
- Carl's desire to develop in the creation of automotors;
- economic problems in post-war Germany.
Although the count believed that this transport was the future, life showed otherwise. During the war years, airships were primarily remembered as bombers, so after the defeat of Germany, she was forbidden to maintain military airships. Since the market for cargo air transport did not exist then, and difficult economic conditions did not allow it to be born, the company's fame began to fall, and the Maybachs ceased to cooperate with Zeppelin.
The airships were finished in 1918, and already in 1919 they presented their first car, which bore their name. The first model was the Maybach W1. It was created on the basis of the Daimler chassis, had a 46 hp engine. and six cylinders.
In parallel to this, they created a motor for several representative cars commissioned by one of the Dutch firms. And already on the basis of this engine, the Maybach W2 car was created. Moreover, it was immediately assigned to the class of limousines, which predetermined the development of the brand as cars for rich people.
The reason for this choice is banal - their main competitor, Daimler-Benz, had capital, assembly lines, and experienced managers. Therefore, Maybachs would not be able to compete with competitors in the mass segment, but in premium segment no such problem existed.
But the Maybach W3 brought the greatest fame to the company. It was presented at the Berlin Motor Show and had a number of innovations that were ahead of their time:
- Brakes were fitted to all wheels for the first time;
- Each cylinder had 2 spark plugs;
- Instead of a clutch, three pedals were installed that switch speeds. The first pedal is the main one, the second is used when climbing uphill, the third is reverse.
With the outbreak of World War II, the demand for limousines began to decline. As a result, since 1941, the company has been working only with defense orders, producing engines for heavy military equipment.
During the war years, more than 140 thousand power units were produced different power. Perhaps the most famous are the Maybach HL 230P30, which have a power of 700 hp. They were installed on the Tiger and Panther tanks, since the power and high reliability allowed to make them massive, well protected and very dangerous for the enemy.
War always has a negative effect on the economy, and Maybach felt this very well. After the victory of the allies, she again began to experience financial difficulties. There were no orders for military equipment, and the consumer was not interested in the segment expensive cars. Europe was ravaged by war, factories damaged by bombing. In addition, Karl had to work forcibly for several years in France as a punishment for collaborating with the Nazis.
In 1957, Maybach tried to create a new car that could bring the company back to the market. But he did not succeed. Probably, age affected, because he was almost 80 years old. After his death, the Maybach company went to competitors Daimler-Benz.
At the end of the twentieth century, Daimler-Benz marketers were looking for a way to increase sales of their products in the premium segment, then the Mercedes-Benz Maybach concept car was born.
But the idea can hardly be called successful. New car consumers perceived it as a Mercedes, only with a different nameplate on the body. Therefore, it was not possible to achieve much success, and in 2015 the release of Maybach was once again stopped.
Now the most popular, most demanded gearbox is not classic mechanics, but an 8-speed transmission. It is installed on almost all cars of all manufacturers, from BMW to Bentley.
Maybach was the first company to use automatic transmission with 8 gears on its cars. This happened as early as 1929. This approach made it possible to make the movement of the car as smooth as possible for that time.
The DS8 Zeppelin transmission is also unique. It was installed on models produced in the late twenties. This box had an electric drive. In fact, it was on its basis that the first subsequent automatic boxes gears.
The brainchild of Karl Maybach can be called the forerunner of a large number of transmissions that were designed taking into account his developments. Perhaps this is one of his most significant achievements, although undeservedly forgotten.
Although the history of Maybach is quite interesting and multifaceted, for some reason the brand's cars could not find their place in the modern world. automotive world.
Video about the Maybach Museum:
In 2002, the production of a large super-expensive Maybach sedan began at a plant in the German city of Sindelfingen. With the help of this revived pre-war brand, DaimlerChrysler decided to enter the segment of luxury executive cars, such as and. In Russia, Maybach prices started at 20 million rubles.
The models of the W140 and W220 series were taken as the basis for the creation of the car. There were two versions in the range: the regular Maybach 57 and the extended Maybach 62, the number in the index indicated the rounded length of the body in decimeters. Under the hood of the car was a 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine developing 550 hp. With. The gearbox was automatic, five-speed, the drive was rear.
In 2005–2006 the lineup replenished with modifications Maybach 57 S and 62 S. They received a more powerful power unit- six-liter V12, the return of which was 612 forces. In 2010, a small restyling of the car was carried out.
In 2007, the Maybach 62 S Landaulet was introduced, which had a landaulet-type body with an opening roof over rear seats. Although officially it was a concept car, single copies of the car were made according to individual orders.
The first time after the debut, the demand for Maybach was quite good, but gradually interest in the car weakened, and after the financial crisis of 2008, the number of sedans sold annually decreased by almost half. As a result, it was decided not to make the second generation of the model. Released at the end of 2012 last car Maybach, the number of cars produced by that time was approximately three thousand.
Maybach car engine table