1928 MAYBACH Typ W5 SG 27/120 HP (Open Body) 7.0 Lang

Vehicle Overview

Maybach needed a new vehicle to stay ahead of its competition, and the W3 model was not exactly up to the task, so Karl Maybach introduced the W5 in 1928.

When the W3 came on the market in 1921, it was an advanced car for its time, but seven years later, it was already old. Customers asked for more, and the carmaker felt obliged to deliver. Thus, Maybach introduced the W5 in 1926, followed by the upgraded, open-top version SG in 1928.

It was not just a convertible version for the already known W5 but an evolution that could’ve been seen from the exterior. The front fascia featured a slightly V-shaped grille with a metallic mesh in front of the radiator and a chromed surrounding. Its headlights were supported by vertical brackets instead of a horizontal slat, like other cars from that era. Maybach chose to install shorter front fenders instead of the elongated ones and placed the spare wheels behind them on each side of the engine’s compartment. At the back, behind the cabin, the carmaker placed the trunk, which was accessible from the outside.

Inside, the luxurious cabin offered room for four people. The rear ones were spoiled with footrests, a folding table, and even a retractable glass panel between the front and rear seats. Boasting cranked windows was yet another luxury option for those times when many cars were still offered without any side windows. But not Maybach.

Under the hood, the carmaker installed its newest engine. The seven-liter inline-six powerplant provided 120 hp, 50 more than the W3 model. Yet, due to the heavy construction, its performances were not astonishing. But the car also featured a critical improvement in the braking department, where power-assisted drum brakes in all corners made it far safer than its predecessor.