1926 MAYBACH Typ W5 27/120 HP (Closed Body) 7.0

Vehicle Overview

Designed as a super luxurious vehicle, the Maybach W5 was the ultimate luxury vehicle built in 1926 in Germany, and it was not only elegant by those times’ standards but also fast thanks to its big engine.

Germany was at the forefront of technology with a booming economy, and the upper-class customers asked for more. Mercedes-Benz tried to offer them the best of what it got, but it couldn’t match what Maybach developed and provided. So even though customers could go to private coachbuilders and get their vehicles tailored to their needs and desires, the German carmaker still offered the W5 as a final product.

The W5 was an evolution over the W3 model and tried to offer more from room and power. Its torpedo bodywork started with curved, slim fenders above the front wheels that supported the electric headlights. The front overhang was short and protected by a narrow bumper-mounted directly on the chassis in front of the leaf springs. Unlike many other cars from the same era, it featured side windows on all doors, not only at the back. Moreover, the windshield was cleaned thanks to a pair of upper-mounted wipers.

Inside, there was plenty of room in the back, thanks to the bench mounted above the rear axle. The driver benefited from a wooden dashboard, and center-mounted dials encircled in chromed trims. As usual, at this level, the upholstery was made from genuine leather and offered a high level of comfort.

The engine was an inline-six powerplant with two camshafts. Even though it provided 50 more ponies than the W3, due to the increased mass of the vehicle, it was just slightly faster than the W3 model, and one of the reasons was the two-speed transmission.