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Maybach
Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH,
founded by Wilhelm Maybach (pronounced "my-ba:h")
and his son Karl, was a German manufacturer
of engines for zeppelins and later large and
luxurious automobiles. The company has historic
roots through the involvement of its founder
who was the technical director of the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft
(Daimler Motor Company). Today, based in Stuttgart,
the brand is owned by DaimlerChrysler. Between
1921 and 1940, the company produced various
classic opulent vehicles. During
World War II, design and production was redirected
to military applications - Maybach designed
and/or produced the engines of many German
military vehicles and German armored fighting
vehicles such as the PzKpfw IV, Tiger I and
the Panther.
The company also built
heavy duty diesel engines for marine and rail
purposes. Famous locomotives with Maybach
engines include the German V200 and British
Rail Class 52 'Westerns'. In
1960, Daimler-Benz acquired a majority shareholding.
Six years later, Maybach-Motorenbau was merged
with the heavy-duty engine arm of Daimler-Benz
to form a new company, Maybach Mercedes-Benz
Motorenbau GmbH. In 1969 this became MTU Friedrichshafen.
A
Maybach 57 at the Scarsdale Concours.Maybach
was revived as a brand in the early 2000s
under the direction of Mercedes-Benz, with
the production of a new model in two variations
- the Maybach 57 and the Maybach 62 (the
numbers are equal to the lengths of the
automobiles in decimetres). The prices range
from US$305,000 to $357,000; they are priced
to directly compete with top-of-the-range
Bentley and Rolls-Royce automobiles. In
2005, the new 57S has been added, sporting
a more powerful engine and cosmetic touches
that provides a sporty image.
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