MM 1907 - a Métallurgique-Maybach zeppelin airship-engined Edwardian

Have a look at the video of this extraordinary 1907 Métallurgique-Maybach. What a machine! Originally this Metallurgique was a special 60/80hp model that was fitted with a 10-litre engine. But the 100 horsepowers with the special high-geared back-axle were not fast enough for Land Speed Record holder Ernest Eldridge. So he decided to sell the car to Messrs Cole and Tillett. They extended the chassis (no. 577) to accommodate an enormous and very rare 1910 Maybach-Zeppelin airship engine. This unique German side-valve 21-litre Maybach Type AZ engine has 6-cylinders and was designed by son Karl Maybach.

“The engine had a superb power-to-weight ratio and was designed so that pistons, cylinders and valves could be replaced easily during a flight when the engine was switched off. The subsequent LZ10 "Schwaben" powered by three AZ engines carried passengers on scheduled flights from 1911. Even in its early form, the AZ developed 195bhp at 1,350rpm and was continuously rated for 180bhp at 1,200rpm. The Maybach company in Germany confirmed the engine as being "...a proprietary unit they manufactured between 1910 and 1912 for use in motor boats, airships or for other 'special purposes'...". The number 30 is likely to indicate the first year of production,” as described by Bonhams in the auction catalogue.

MM 1907 has a rich history and comes with extensive documentation. In the past 30 years, the car frequently competed in various VSCC race and hill climb events. The video shown was made in late April this year. Pretty impressive don`t you think?! Do you already see yourself behind the wheel of the Métallurgique-Maybach with its 54-inch long, 24-valve 6-cylinder engine?

This unique Edwardian – lot 356 - will be auctioned during Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale on the 5th of July 2019. Click here to find out more about this 1907 Métallurgique-Maybach.

Originally published: Tuesday July 2nd, 2019

Publié:

lundi mars 28th, 2022

Mike Hill

31 Mars 2022, 17:45

Gordon? Surely Douglas Fitzpatrick....

David pagano

07 Juillet 2019, 09:55

There was a raceboat here in Australia back i the latd 20s named Firebolt that ran one of these zeppelin engine.
It was designed by the airplane designer Lawrence Wackett. The stepped Hydroplane was u ique i that it had a puller propeller forward of the step rather than the conventional pusher prop on all boats.
It did around 60mph but rolled over in a turn and sank.

Michael Schlenger

02 Juillet 2019, 01:06

This is truely an important and impressive piece of machinery from the late Edwardian era (by the way, I recommend to mute the sound to avoid the inappropriate "music" in the video). In my opinion, one should have also mentioned one of its most prominent postwar owners - Gordon Fitzpatrick. He owned the beast for quite some time and obviously toured through Europe with it. Evidence for this is the attached photo from my collection showing Fitzpatrick with his magnificent car in the 1950s in the Rhineland area in Germany. Should the buyer of the car be interested in this original photo, I'll donate it to him gladly, since it belongs to the car...

M. Lincoln-Smith

26 Mars 2022, 12:43

I remember Gordon very well in the 1950's with his German mechanic. they rebuilt the car and had to start it by priming each cylinder with the use of a crow bar. Many years later it turned up at the Festival of Speed owned by a chap from Cambridge. By this time it had a starter ring on the flywheel and electric start. I recall Gordon, who had many cars of interest in those days, had a Riley Monaco with a Laystall turned and balanced engine. Ran like a dynamo, charming man as was his German mechanic.

MM 1907 - a Métallurgique-Maybach zeppelin airship-engined Edwardian

Commentaires

Ajoutez un commentaire...