Martin Wasp

The Martin-Wasp or Wasp is a luxury American automobile which was built by the Martin-Wasp Corporation in Bennington, Vermont, from 1919 to 1925.[1]

Wasp (Martin-Wasp)
Martin- Wasp display at the Hotel Commodore - 1920
Overview
TypeTouring
ManufacturerMartin Wasp Corporation
Production1919-1925
AssemblyBennington, Vermont, United States
DesignerKarl Hamlen Martin
Body and chassis
ClassLuxury car
Body styleRickshaw Phaeton
ChassisParish & Bingham chassis on Timkin axles
Powertrain
EngineWisconsin, T-head 350 cu in (5.8-liter) 4-cylinder
Power output72-hp
TransmissionBrown-Lipe 4-speed
Dimensions
Wheelbase3,454 mm (136.0 in)
Curb weight3800 lbs

History

Karl Hamlen Martin designed bespoke coachwork automobile bodies, as well as creating designs for Kenworthy, Barley, Roamer, Owen-Magnetic, Dorris and other automobile manufacturers. From 1916 to 1918 he was an independent body designer for imported chassis of Renault, Rolls-Royce, Mors, Mercedes, and others. Martin also designed and cast a St. Christopher medal in bronze that was successfully marketed for automobiles between 1917 and 1920.[2]

In 1919 Martin leased workshops at a Pleasant street plant in Bennington, Vermont[3] and incorporated the Martin-Wasp Corporation to build coach-built automobiles.[4] The cars were custom built in tranches of 6 at a time, and would be considered an "assembled car" using high-end automotive parts from major manufacturers.[2]

The Wasp coachwork was Karl Martin's touring car design that he called a Rickshaw Phaeton.[5] It was described as having sharply pointed stylized fenders, fully-nickeled German radiator and headlights, large step plates, natural wood bows on top with many curves, bullet lights in the windshield, and black lacquer paint contrasting with its natural aluminum hood. Rudge-Whitworth wire wheels, stylized aluminum stingers on the hood, red leather interior with in-laid wood dash with a built-in St. Christopher's medal, completed the description.[1][2]

The first Wasp was done just in time for National Automobile Week in New York City and was exhibited at the Commodore Hotel in January, 1920. The brochure offered was titled Automobiles Wasp. The display car was purchased by Douglas Fairbanks Sr.[5]

The Wasp had a 4-cylinder Wisconsin engine on a 136-inch wheelbase. The price with coachwork was $5,500, equivalent to $80,344 in 2022. In 1922 Martin announced his next series which would be a six-cylinder Continental engine custom car, with a 144-inch wheelbase priced at $10,000, (equivalent to $174,831 in 2022).[4][1]

The company built 17 Wasps between 1919 and 1925, 14 four-cylinder and 3 six-cylinder on the longer chassis. In 1947 an additional car was assembled from a factory 1921 4-cylinder chassis using Karl Martin's coachwork. Martin-Wasp Corporation is considered to be Vermont's only early serial automobile manufacturer.[2][6]

Three Wasps survive, one of which is on display at the Bennington Museum in Bennington, Vermont.[5]

  • Martin-Wasp Radiator Emblem - Bennington Museum - Bennington, VT
  • 1924 Martin-Wasp - Bennington Museum - Bennington, VT
  • 1924 Martin-Wasp - Bennington Museum - Bennington, VT
  • 1924 Martin-Wasp - Rickshaw Phaeton Body - Bennington Museum - Bennington, VT

See also

References
  1. Kimes, Beverly Rae; Clark Jr., Henry Austin (1996). Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 (3rd ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 978-0-87341-428-9.
  2. Theobald, Mark (2004). "Karl H. Martin, Martin-Wasp Corp". Coachbuilt.com.
  3. Strohl, Daniel (December 21, 2009). "Hemmings Article; In search of the birthplace of the Martin Wasp". www.hemmings.com. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  4. Georgano, Nick (2001). The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile (3 vol. ed.). Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers. ISBN 1-57958-293-1.
  5. "Bennington Museum Automobile". bennington.pastperfectonline.com.
  6. "Vanderbilt Cup Races - A 1924 Wasp Touring Car Built in Bennington, Vermont". www.vanderbiltcupraces.com.
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