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Maybach Zeppelin through the eyes of David LaChapelle - click above to view high-res NSFW gallery

While its enduring legacy will forever be crippling hyperinflation and the inability to fight the rise of Nazism, Germany's post World War I Weimar Republic has something of a positive, cultural heritage. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, theater, art, architecture (Bauhaus anyone?) and music all flourished in pre-Hitler Germany. Cabaret and promiscuity in general became so widespread that conservatives had to busy themselves banning jazz and passing laws against teenagers purchasing pornography. Long story short, Berlin was quite the place to be during the Jazz Age.

And not a bad place to shop for cars, either. Especially decadent, luxury cars. Like the dreamy Mercedes-Benz SSK. Or a stately Horch 430 Cabriolet Drophead Coupe. And even if we could forget the irrepressible 1931 Maybach Zeppelin DS 8, Daimler wouldn't let us. To wit, in order to publicize their brand-new Maybach Zeppelin, Daimler has retained the services of noted fashion/art photographer David LaChapelle and furnished him with both the new car and a lovely custard and black example of the OG 1931 Zeppelin. Here's how Daimler describes the collaboration:
"The renowned American photographer has chosen to collaborate with style icon Daphne Guinness to portray both vehicles in his signature fashion. With creative freedom entrusted to LaChapelle by Maybach, he created photos that whisk the observer to a world filled with luxurious extravagance that features LaChapelle's celebrated surreal tableaux."
Fair enough. There is actually something of a precedent here, as Andy Warhol created a 35-part series for Daimler in 1986 entitled, "Car." Coincidently, it was Warhol that discovered LaChapelle. As far as LaChapelle's photos go, we're showing you the much less interesting one here on the mainpage. There's a Not Safe For Work (nudity) gallery of the other stuff after the jump. Are they any good? Hard to say, but we are reminded of Hunter S. Thompson's description of Bazooko's Circus as, "what the whole hep world would be doing Saturday night if the Nazis had won the war... the Sixth Reich." See for yourselves along with a press release and a making-of video after the jump (NSFW).

[Source: Daimler]

Continue reading Celebrated photographer David LaChapelle gets artsy with Maybach [UPDATE: Video added]

Celebrated photographer David LaChapelle gets artsy with Maybach [UPDATE: Video added] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1931 Maybach Zeppelin1931 Maybach Zeppelin DS 81931MaybachZeppelin1931MaybachZeppelinDs82010 Maybach2010 Maybach Zeppelin2010Maybach2010MaybachZeppelinAndy WarholAndyWarholDaimlerDavid LaChapelleDavidLachapelleHorchMaybachMaybach 62maybach 62 zeppelinMaybach ZeppelinMaybach Zeppelin DS 8Maybach62Maybach62ZeppelinMaybachZeppelinMaybachZeppelinDs8Weimar RepublicWeimarRepublicTue, 08 Dec 2009 19:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Lead Zeppelin? Maybach exhumes long-dormant nameplate for new super-lux model]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/11/lead-zeppelin-maybach-exhumes-long-dormant-nameplate-for-new-su/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/11/lead-zeppelin-maybach-exhumes-long-dormant-nameplate-for-new-su/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/11/lead-zeppelin-maybach-exhumes-long-dormant-nameplate-for-new-su/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above to view the Maybach Zeppelin in high-resolution

One of these days, the guys at Daimler headquarters in Stuttgart will realize that, to make Maybach a success, the marque is going to need to do more than revive some old names and slap 'em on an oversized version of the old Mercedes S-Class. Until then, however, it's full speed ahead on the current course, as Maybach is poised to unveil Zeppelin editions of its current models.

Reviving the old nameplate of the original Maybach's top-spec model, the new Zeppelin is little more than a pricy trim package. €406,000 (about $525k USD by today's rates) gets you a Maybach 57 Zeppelin, while the larger 62 commands a €473,200 ($612k) sum. In exchange, you get some unique 20" dark chrome rims, the requisite special badges, dark red tail lights, vertical exhaust outlets, special leather upholstery ("California beige" with "Stromboli black" stitching), piano lacquer trim, a set of silver champagne flutes and a plastic fragrance dispenser.

Maybach says they'll only make 100 Zeppelin editions, but remember: that's a maximum, and we'd be surprised if they actually sold that many. Full details in the press release after the jump and photos in the gallery below.

Gallery: Maybach Zeppelin


[Source: Daimler]

Continue reading Lead Zeppelin? Maybach exhumes long-dormant nameplate for new super-lux model

Lead Zeppelin? Maybach exhumes long-dormant nameplate for new super-lux model originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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