Maybach-Stromlinienwagen ’32: The Rolling Zeppelin!

Just look at this car:

Isn’t it fantastic?

The Maybach Zeppelin DS-8, powered by a 8-liter V-12 engine, was introduced in 1931. It was one of the most refined automobiles of the period, a formidable rival of the Rolls-Royce, Grosser Mercedes and Hispano-Suiza. Superficially, the Zeppelin was a rather simple car of conventional design. Here is a preserved example with Spohn bodywork:

But in 1932, Spohn atelier produced a special streamline body for the DS-8. And it was different not only from the ‘standard’ bodywork but from any of its contemporaries:

The Maybach Stromlinie was displayed at the 1932 Berlin Auto Show:

See the different paint scheme? Probably there was more than one body. Besides, the car was advertised (which doesn’t mean it was available commercially) in two variants, powered by 6- and 8-cylinder engines.

The fate of the Maybach Zeppelin streamliner (or streamliners?) remains a mystery. As far as yours truly knows, there are no survivors. But maybe some day, in some obscure barn… Can’t we dream? I believe we can.

Im