1951 Maybach Typ SW 42 “Ponton” by Spohn 4.2

Vehicle Overview

Six years after the end of WWII, the German coachbuilder Spohn, together with what remained from the Maybach brand, tried to make a comeback on the market with a luxurious four-door sedan built for people with deep pockets.

After the war, Germany was in a very bad economic situation. Most automakers suffered from destruction or were banished from building vehicles. Since Maybach supplied engines for the German tanks and armored vehicles, it was targeted during the war, and its factory was destroyed. So, it tried together with Spohn to avoid sanctions. As a result, the coachbuilder took an old chassis, installed a 4.2-liter Maybach engine, and then made an exclusive bodywork to complete the package. The result is considered one of the best examples of German post-war designs and paved the way for the “Ponton” era.

The term refers to vehicles with narrow bodies and wide, curved front and rear fenders. Unlike vehicles made before the war, these were not as ample, but they looked slimmer and taller. The Maybach 42 Ponton by Spohn followed these principles, but the coachbuilder also let the imagination go beyond that and extended the front fenders toward the back of the car, resulting in a sloped down arched over the doors until the rear quarter panels. That elegant shape also inspired other automakers around the world in the following years. The tall and V-shaped engine compartment featured a flat radiator grille with a vertical center slat. It was protected by a single-piece chromed metallic bumper. The sloped-down rear end of the greenhouse was a reminder of the Stromlinen era, where Spohn made aerodynamically shaped vehicles. Finally, at the back, the long and curved trunk lid elegantly ended the vehicle. Since the vehicle was built on a chassis, the coachbuilder could offer it with either a standard wheelbase (SW) or an extended one (LWB).

Inside, the Spohn achieved a high level of craftsmanship and installed a flat dashboard with a wood finish adorned by chromed trims around the dials and gauges that formed the instrument cluster. These were not in front of the driver but moved towards the middle of the dashboard. The three-spoke steering wheel featured thin wires and expensive materials. For upholstery, Spohn allowed customers to choose from a wide category of materials, either fabrics or leather. Regardless of which wheelbase version the customer chose, they had plenty of legroom in the back, but the longer version allowed for rearward middle-row seating for translators.

Under the hood, Spohn installed the same 4.2-liter gasoline engine produced by Spohn before and during WWII, although with some slight adjustments for the improved gasoline that started to be available again after the 1939 premium gasoline crisis in Germany. The gearbox was a four-speed manual that allowed drivers to switch from third to fourth and back without using the clutch.