 After
the fusion of the Daimler Motorenwerke and Benz & Cie in 1926
the new company could rely on a team of engineers headed by none less than
Ferdinand Porsche. Even so, first models were rather boring 6-cylinder
cars. A newly-developed racer proved to be much more spectacular. The K24/100/160,
known as „deathtrap“ due to its diffcult handling characteristics, was
equipped with a 6.25litre engine. This model K was followed by models S
(180hp), SS (200hp), SSK (225hp), and SSKL (300hp).  Porsche
left the company in 1928 and was succeeded by Hans Nibel. Under his direction,
the new models „Nürburg“ (8-cyl.), „Mannheim“ (6-cyl.) and „Great
Mercedes“ (8-cyl., 7.65litres, also available with supercharger) were developed.
The „170“ opened the small car market for Mercedes in 1931. In 1933, the
first supercharged sports car, named „380“, delivered 140hp from 3.8litres.
A year later, the famous 500K was introduced. On the opposite end of the
range, the world’s first diesel car (260D) was introduced in 1935.  Meanwhile
former racing driver Max Seller had succeeded Nibel as head of technical
development and the late thirties saw the production of such luxurious
cars as the new „Great Mercedes“ in 1938 and the 540K, with 115hp basic
power and a full 180hp supercharged.
After the war, Mercedes continued the humble
170V from 1947 onwards with a meagre 38hp.
 |
Mecedes-Benz 540K Roadster, 1937 |
| 1932 SS sports convertible, owned
by english-german actress and UFA-star Lilian Harvey |
 |
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1938 500K Special Roadster with coachworks
by Erdmann-Rossi of Berlin, as ordered by Hermann Göring |
| 1933 Mercedes Benz SS convertible |
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|
After
Gottlieb Daimler’s death in 1907 the co-inventor of the original Daimler
engine, Wilhelm Maybach, retired from the business to build aero engines
for the airships of his friend Count von Zeppelin. The "Maybach Motorenbau"
opened in 1912, but Maybach concentrated on car engines only after WWI,
when development of aero engines was restricted by the Versailles Treaty.
His first construction, a 6-cylinder, 5.7litre engine, was sold only once.
Thus Maybach decided to venture into building whole cars, and the W3 was
introduced in 1921. In all, around 2300 vehicles were built by Maybach,
from 1930 onwards also with a 12-cylinder, 6.9 litre engine. 
In
1938 Maybach offered a 7-speed gear box in conjunction with a 6-cylinder
engine. Since Maybach restricted himself to a limited number of standard
bodyworks, most of his cars were unique pieces designed after the buyer’s
ideas. Production of Maybach cars ceased in 1941.
