Daimler Gives Up on Maybach
By John Olson
The Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper reported this past weekend that the Maybach brand will end in early 2013. CEO Dieter Zetsche explained that studies for a new generation of Maybach models vs. expanding the next S-Class Mercedes-Benz, also due in 2013, give more certainty of success to the latter. Plans are proceeding for a next S-Class in three wheelbases, including an S 600 “Pullman” limousine.
Collectors tend to value defunct brands; Tucker and Packard are good examples. The Maybach name will always be revered in Daimler AG history due to Wilhelm Maybach’s innovative engineering assistance during Gottieb Daimler’s founding years. It is possible Maybach will be enshrined more after production ends than when built.
The current Maybach was launched in 2002 in two wheelbases, built on the W140 S-Class structure of 1991-1999, due to their larger dimensions. Unfortunately sales of Maybach never even approached expectations. The ultra-luxury segment was flooded with new models after Volkswagen bought Bentley and BMW took over Rolls Royce. The notion that the best Mercedes-Benz required separate branding was obviously just a notion in hindsight.
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Understanding the Pebble Beach Concours
By John Olson
Many of you have entered cars in a “concour d’Elegance” at least once. Some have taken up the challenge to win or become interested enough to learn judging. MBCA among others conducts judging classes around the country every year. That’s how it happened for me. A few years later I was invited to organize a concours in Minneapolis and even select/create the judging format. National club-wide judging criteria is now common but with little inter-club standardization except perhaps the use of a 100 point yardstick.
This year I had the honor of judging post WWII Mercedes-Benz at Pebble Beach. The biggest different at Continue reading »
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SLS GT3 Finished 1st at Nurburgring
By slmarket
EXCERPT FROM THE SL MARKET LETTER:
M-B’s creation of a genuinely viable “club racer” is a return to the years when the SL we saw Paul O’Shea race on Sunday could be ordered at a local dealership on Monday. Granted the 2011 GT3 will cost about double a standard SLS, but that comes with direct AMG assistance and, as the results above suggest, with a very potent product. With Porsche, Audi, BMW, Aston-Martin, Ferrari and a few rice racers all obtaining FAI’s GT3 homologations, could we be seeing fresh interest in private and inter-club “super car” competition in the USA?. Sure easier to identify with than Formula 1! The last Mercedes-Benz’ serving this activity were the 1954-1957 300SLs, over 50 years ago.
The ninth of ten VLN endurance races concluded October 16 with an overall win by Continue reading »
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