Maybach SW38
Year:
1938
Manufacturer:
Maybach Motorenbau, Stuttgart, Germany
Number Produced:
520
Specifications:
3,790cc OHC Inline 6-cylinder Engine
Two Solex MMO VS 35 Carburettors
140 bhp at 4,000 rpm
5-Speed Maybach DS G 35 Manual Transmission
Description:
Maybach was an incredibly gifted engineer, who among his many inventions were the honeycomb radiator and the atomising carburettor. Prior to and during World War I, he performed development work on a number of aircraft engines, while perfecting his own large displacement V-12
The first Maybach W3 automobile was introduced in 1921, and development over the ensuing years culminated with the fabulous V-12 type DS-7 and DS-8 in the early 1930s.
The smaller type SW-38 was introduced in 1936. This was the final model to be released before the war and was available in three versions with straight-six engines of 3.5 litre, 3.8 litre and 4.2 litre capacities.
The automotive world was stunned by this 6-cylinder car, which could reach speeds close to 100 mph, a bench-mark velocity during the era.
A total of 520 vehicles were built between 1936 and 1939, but only around 152 of these are known to exist today, so ownership continues to be very exclusive.
This Exhibit was delivered to be used by Herbert von Dirksen the last German Ambassador to Britain before World War II and was later purchased by Sir Len Southward in the United Kingdom in 1966 and later restored in the Museum Workshop.