1935 MAYBACH Typ SW 35 Stromlinien 3.4

Vehicle Overview

Just a few years before WWII blew the world into pieces, Maybach built few very special models and chose the Spohn coachbuilder to build some of its extraordinary vehicles. The unusual result was the Stromlinien.

The Stromlinien (eng. Streamline) was one of the few cars in that era that tried to take the aerodynamic into account. The design was unusual and it was designed by Paul Jaray, who was known for the creation of that drop-shaped greenhouse. But more unusual was the windshield, which was wrapped around the front cabin. The middle section could have been open, for more fresh air.

The body was made on top of an SW 35 chassis, which also had some unusual features. In those times, most of the cars had front and rear solid axles with leaf springs. The SW 35 had a double-wishbone front suspension. Spohn built two such vehicles, one of which was exhibited at the German International Motor Show in 1935. The curved chassis was another characteristic of the vehicle, and that technical solution allowed a lower center of gravity.

The 3.5-liter engine was supplied by Maybach. It was considered a better option due to its very good power to weight ratio. It was a better fit under the hood. In the end, all of the innovations in the car paid off and the SW 35 Stromlinien had a higher top speed when compared with the regular SW 35 with the same engine by 20 kph (12.5 mph). It might not seem much, but it was 1935.