The Maybach SW 38 was taken over by Brother Anysius (Johann Sauer), the Bishop of Trier’s driver, on May 21, 1939. After receiving half a day of instructions on how to drive and look after the car, Brother Anysius set off for Trier on a Sunday afternoon. Although the first owner, the Bishop of Trier, was a man of the church, material matters, such as the commission rate, played a decisive role in the purchase.
As can be seen in the letter of May 17, 1939 from the sales office in Frankfurt am Main to the head office in Friedrichshafen, the car dealer Junk and the bishop's driver, Brother Anysius, visited the Maybach sales office that day. If Maybach had not agreed to Mr. Junk’s commission fee of 7.5 percent, he and the driver would have travelled to Zwickau to the car manufacturer Auto-Union, which had probably already approved the 7.5 percent commission rate. In addition, a salesman from Auto-Union had revealed complaints from Maybach customers.
Since the bishop's previous vehicle, an Audi, was beyond repair, Maybach-Motorenbau in Friedrichshafen did not have to trade in an old car and the sales manager agreed to the 7.5 percent commission fee. Likewise, the bishop's request to omit the MM logo on the radiator grille and hubcaps was granted. The order form was signed by Vicar General Dr. von Meurers on May 19, 1939.
A student bought the Maybach in 1951 and drove it for 30 years. As an engineer, he had the technical expertise to carry out the repair work himself. After 30 years, he decided to buy a "more modern, zippy car" and sold his Maybach.
FIRST OWNER:
Bishop of Trier, Franz Rudolf Bornewasser