1911 Marmon Wasp

The Marmon Motor Company, formerly the Nordyke and Marmon Company, produced approximately 250,000 vehicles between the years 1903 and 1933. It is estimated that around 350 examples exist in modern times. Perhaps the most famous Marmon still in existence, and arguably of all time, was the Marmon Wasp.

The Marmon Wasp was entered in the Inaugural Indianapolis 500 Race in 1911. It was driven by Ray Harroun and qualified in 28th position. The car was uniquely different from the other competitors; it had seating for one. The other cars had seating for two, one for the driver and the other for the mechanic. With seating for just one, the Marmon was streamlined and weighed less weight. When others complained of the dangers of a single-seater vehicle, Harroun fitted the car with rear-view mirrors. This was the first time a rearview mirror was ever used on a race (or passenger) car.

To this day, Harroun still holds an Indy 500 record; no one has ever come from the 28th (or worse) starting position to win the race. The car averaged 74.602 miles per hour. The total time was 6:42:08 for the 500-mile race. In winning the race, Harroun was awarded $14,250.

Harroun was only 29 years old when he achieved the historic victory. He was an engineer for the Marmon Motor Car Company and the designer of the six-cylinder Marmon Wasp. The car was named 'Wasp' due to its sharp-pointed, wasp-like tail and its yellow-and-black paint scheme. The long pointed tail reduced air drag. In 1961, he drove the Wasp in a 50th Anniversary lap at the Indy 500.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2008