Maybach III, 1955, Australia

The Maybach III is the last in a series of Maybach cars by Charles Dean, an engineer with the Repco Comapnay - and is one of Australia's most historic racing cars.
The development of the Maybach began in the late 1940's when Dean acquired an engine from a German Scout Car that had been captured in the Middle East during the Second World War and sent to Australia. Recognising the high quality engineering in these vehicles, Deab used this improbable engine to build a racing special, the Maybach I.
This was an incredibly successful car, and in the hands of Stan Jones, father of the world champion driver, , won against the 'great white hope' of British motor racing, the BRM, in the New Zealand Grand Prix.
Dean then stripped down Maybach I and built Maybach II, a smaller and lighter car. However, this was demolished in the 1954 Australian Grand Prix. The parts were salvaged and dean constructed his last Maybach.
The Maybach III was a slightly larger car but of similar design to the original. Fitted with a Chevrolet V8 engine, the car was driven into second place in the 1958 Austalian Grand Prix followed by Jones' two victories in South Australia in 1959.

In reports published in the 'Financial Review' of 22nd April 1983, the Maybach III is described as:
" The last of a series of what have been the best 'specials' made anywhere in the world during the 1940's and 1950's."