MAYBACH Typ SW 35, SW 38 and SW 42

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MAYBACH Typ SW 35, SW 38 and SW 42 Typ SW 38 "Ponton" Cabriolet by Spohn
MAYBACH Typ SW 35, SW 38 and SW 42 Typ SW 38 "Ponton" Cabriolet by Spohn  1948 None
1948 None

Built on a pre-war chassis, the Spohn-clad hybrid Ponton-cabrio seems rather unfinished but is still a unique car.
Among the multiple attempts to revitalize the company’s line-up in an era driven by aerodynamic efficiency and design trends, the Spohn was most notable thanks to its unique body work that blended both saloon and cabrio elements into a large vehicle that flaunted its rare bloodline through its avant garde overlapped-grille design. Despite its fresh and slightly ahead-of-the-time look, the car’s general appearance was plagued by the use of an old chassis with the wheels and fenders having been badly aligned, leading to a look close to that of a body builder with “chicken-legs”.

Full Description and Technical Specifications
MAYBACH Typ SW 35, SW 38 and SW 42 Typ SW 42 "Ponton" by Spohn
MAYBACH Typ SW 35, SW 38 and SW 42 Typ SW 42 "Ponton" by Spohn  1951 1954
1951 1954

The blokes at Spohn tweaked yet another Maybach model in 1951, fitting it with a custom-made body bristling with elegance.
Far form being extravagant, the SW 42 Ponton was another car for the incredibly rich, a vehicle which didn’t spark bare-teeth expressed amazement but mute, solemn admiration. While other cars at the time seemed rather playful and energetic, the Ponton commands silence through its swift yet dead-serious design. Seen from above, the car looks as if it were made from three different parts with prominent sidelines and center body with a tapered nose ending with a large flat grille. Powered by a 6-straight 4.2 L petrol unit, the car was as powerful as any of the Maybach range at the time, with a power output of 140 hp.

Full Description and Technical Specifications
MAYBACH Typ SW 35, SW 38 and SW 42 Typ SW 42
MAYBACH Typ SW 35, SW 38 and SW 42 Typ SW 42  1940 1945
1940 1945

The Maybach SW series included numerous versions of vehicles, including coupes, convertibles, and limousines.
They shared the same chassis, but with different wheelbases. And some were very rare, such as the model 42.

WWII already started in 1939 when the first SW42 rolled out from the factory, but it was the same as before: the chassis was built by Maybach and then the bodywork was supplied by other companies such as Glass, Spohn, or Vysoke Myto in Slovakia. The last vehicle built over an empty SW42 chassis is believed to be the Erdman&Rossi in 1949 for an East Germany official.

The main idea of the time was that a custom-built needs to be done by special workshops and the chassis, drivetrain, and engine to be built by another workshop. From the 133 chassis built by Maybach for the SW42, The main difference between the SW38 and the SW42 was the engine displacement. Due to the shortage of better fuel, which was used by the German Army, the car-manufacturer had to lower the compression ratio up to 6.6:1, instead of the regular 8:1. Due to that, the power output dropped. But Maybach didn’t want its cars to be sluggish and slow. With the increase, it obtained the same 140 hp from the straight-six unit. The carburetors were also modified for the lower-quality fuel.

The interior of the Maybach 42, regardless of the bodywork, was built with high-quality materials. An interesting quality of the vehicles, especially for those built by Spohn, was that they featured electrically operated windows.

Full Description and Technical Specifications
MAYBACH Typ SW 35, SW 38 and SW 42 Typ SW 42 Cabriolet
MAYBACH Typ SW 35, SW 38 and SW 42 Typ SW 42 Cabriolet  1940 1945
1940 1945

Having a design similar to the saloon and Ponton models, the cabrio had very little to set itself apart except the pleasure of open-top driving of course.
Powered by the same choice of 6-cylinder 4.2 L petrol unit rated at 140 hp, the car had the same performance as its stablemates. Despite all the similarities, a smart-built soft-top was the car’s main asset, especially when equipped on long-wheelbase versions. The cover could be either retracted completely or partly on each compartment. This made the cabrio somewhat similar to the later released Landaulets which had a similar roof-layout.

Full Description and Technical Specifications
MAYBACH Typ SW 35, SW 38 and SW 42 Typ SW 35/SW 38 Cabriolet
MAYBACH Typ SW 35, SW 38 and SW 42 Typ SW 35/SW 38 Cabriolet  1936 1939
1936 1939

Built in the same way as its hard-top stablemate, the cabrio offered the same ridiculously large rear compartment with a touch of fresh air and wind-blowing experience †hanks to its retractable soft-top.
Highly refined, the cabrio came equipped with the same engine range as the saloon with whom it shared most of other features as well, including a a variety of customization options. Due to the car’s large interior volume, the 2+2 seating layout could be maximized to accommodate up to 6 passanegers thanks to an optional middle front or rear facing folding row of seats.

Full Description and Technical Specifications
MAYBACH Typ SW 35, SW 38 and SW 42 Typ SW 35/SW 38
MAYBACH Typ SW 35, SW 38 and SW 42 Typ SW 35/SW 38  1935 1939
1935 1939

The SW 35/SW 38 model was much like an MB Pullman with a large body, outstanding coachwork and tremendously luxurious interior.
Easily recognizable by its double-M logo emblazoned grille and generous interior room, the 35/38 passed as car for the rich and powerful and one of the few produced before the company was struck by bankruptcy. The car came with a choice of two petrol units displacing 3.4L and 3.8L respectively with the latter having been also fitted to a longer wheelbase. Despite the cc difference, both engines shared the same power output of 140 hp as previously seen on DSH units.

Full Description and Technical Specifications
MAYBACH Typ SW 35, SW 38 and SW 42 Typ SW 38 "Stromlinien Cabriolet" by Spohn
MAYBACH Typ SW 35, SW 38 and SW 42 Typ SW 38 "Stromlinien Cabriolet" by Spohn  1937 1938
1937 1938

Despite having appeared one decade prior to the the Spohn-styled “Ponton”, the cabrio had a slightly more balanced construction.
Based on the same pre-war chassis, the car was built in such a way o avoid any flaws such as the strange fender-wheel alignment seen on the Ponton. In this respect, the wide fenders and door sills were narrowed and the spare wheel side mount was relocated inside the car, right next to the engine, having been covered by a vented door. Engine access was made from above through a split gull-wing style hood while the rear end was elongated to match the size of the car’s nose which accommodate the large 6-straight 3.8 L petrol unit.

Full Description and Technical Specifications
MAYBACH Typ SW 35, SW 38 and SW 42 Typ SW 35 Stromlinien
MAYBACH Typ SW 35, SW 38 and SW 42 Typ SW 35 Stromlinien  1935 1936
1935 1936

Just a few years before WWII blew the world into pieces, Maybach built few very special models and chose the Spohn coachbuilder to build some of its extraordinary vehicles.
The unusual result was the Stromlinien.

The Stromlinien (eng. Streamline) was one of the few cars in that era that tried to take the aerodynamic into account. The design was unusual and it was designed by Paul Jaray, who was known for the creation of that drop-shaped greenhouse. But more unusual was the windshield, which was wrapped around the front cabin. The middle section could have been open, for more fresh air.

The body was made on top of an SW 35 chassis, which also had some unusual features. In those times, most of the cars had front and rear solid axles with leaf springs. The SW 35 had a double-wishbone front suspension. Spohn built two such vehicles, one of which was exhibited at the German International Motor Show in 1935. The curved chassis was another characteristic of the vehicle, and that technical solution allowed a lower center of gravity.

The 3.5-liter engine was supplied by Maybach. It was considered a better option due to its very good power to weight ratio. It was a better fit under the hood. In the end, all of the innovations in the car paid off and the SW 35 Stromlinien had a higher top speed when compared with the regular SW 35 with the same engine by 20 kph (12.5 mph). It might not seem much, but it was 1935.

Full Description and Technical Specifications

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