1934 Maybach Zeppelin DS8 Stromlinien Cabriolet - one-off body

• Maybach was a technological leader in European vehicle manufacturing
• 12-cylinder engine with 8-litre displacement and 200 hp
• Unique 8-speed shift regulator transmission
• Only 24 Maybach Zeppelin cars, including 2 chassis, still exist today
• One-of-a-kind bodywork
• Original leather interior in excellent condition
• Purchase price at the time was twice as of a supercharged Mercedes
• All other open-top Zeppelin cars are in foundations and museums
• Excellent driving characteristics

Historically, Maybach was far ahead of its time in automotive technology. During the war, the German government relied on Maybach to power all half-tracked vehicles and tanks, and the company was a major engine supplier for the marine and aircraft industries. Even the iconic "Zeppelin" airships, which crossed the Atlantic in the 1930s, were equipped with Maybach engines. The company’s most prestigious model was named after these airships: the "Maybach Zeppelin". Unlike Horch, which struggled with unreliable 5-litre V12s, Maybach built robust and powerful 12-cylinder engines – starting with a 7-litre, 150-horsepower unit and later expanding to an 8-litre, 200-horsepower engine in the DS8. Their cars also featured a revolutionary 7-speed pre-selector gearbox, an engineering feat of its time.

I had the privilege of driving such a Maybach Zeppelin in a hilly, winding landscape, and the car’s performance – its acceleration, handling, and braking – was nothing short of phenomenal. It's no surprise that this model cost twice as much as a supercharged Mercedes back then. Due to its exclusivity, few Zeppelins were ever built, and even fewer survive today. According to the Maybach Club register compiled by Count Metternich, only 28 V12 Maybachs remain. Among these, just 15 are open models, and of those, only eleven are DS8s with the 8-litre engine – just three of which still have the original 7-speed gearbox.

From a design perspective, only two other DS8 Zeppelins rival the beauty of our streamlined convertible, which Maybach officially named the “Streamline Cabriolet.” One of them is in Germany’s prestigious Loh Collection and reportedly not for sale, even after a €12 million offer. The other, known as the "Binomi" cabriolet, has remained in the same Swiss family since new. Having sold four Zeppelins previously, I can confidently say this is the most compelling example both technically and aesthetically. It likely stayed with its original North American owner until 1984, when it was acquired by its current (and second) owner. The vehicle retains its original red leather interior in remarkably preserved condition. With its nearly six-meter length, teardrop contours, and ultra-low windscreen, it’s among the most striking vehicles I’ve encountered. Featured at the 1934 Paris Motor Show and on the cover of Harry Niemann’s last Maybach book, this car is a top contender for Pebble Beach.