The 350 km/h 700 bhp Fulda Maybach Exelero

The decision to build an automobile based on a Maybach stemmed from a chance finding when the company was researching its 100th anniversary.

1938 – high speed tyre testing vehicle required

In researching the 100th anniversary, drawings and photos were discovered of the Maybach streamlined vehicle SW 38 from 1938, which had been commissioned by Fulda. As was revealed by the documents, at the end of the 1930s, Fulda requested renowned Frankfurt coachbuilders Dörr and Schreck, to develop a car with streamlined bodywork for the purpose of high-speed tyre testing.

The background to this ambitious project was an important boost to development in vehicle manufacturing and in the development of the road network. The thirties revolutionised the process of automobile manufacturing. And Fulda was part of this upswing.

In 1933, after large parts of the revolutionary Autobahn road system had been completed, it became possible for the first time to maintain high speeds over long distances and for long periods of time. The tyre industry was required to take these new conditions into account with high-performance and hard-wearing products.

Fulda recognised the signs of the time and started planning for a test car with the focus of attention on maximum speed. The objective was to break the "sound barrier" of 200 km/h, at that time an absolutely incredible speed and one in which aerodynamics proved to be an important factor.

Based on preliminary discussions, the Maybach chassis quickly became the logical favourite among those automobile designs considered, not least because the engines offered remarkable performance. Furthermore, close business relations had already existed between the two companies, because Fulda had already previously been involved as an OEM tyre supplier for Maybach cars.

The first design of the special-purpose vehicle was based on the chassis of the Maybach "Zeppelin" model with a twelve-cylinder engine. For weight reasons, however, in the end the smaller Maybach SW 38 with 6 cylinders, 3.6 litre capacity and 140 bhp was chosen.

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