It Started with the Greatest Race.
In 1911, the Marmon Motor Company roared onto the world stage with the groundbreaking Marmon Wasp winning the inaugural Indianapolis 500.
With its distinct color scheme and tail shape, as well as the crucial innovation of the rearview mirror, the Wasp secured its place in racing history along with Marmon driver Ray Harroun and his team.
Putting the Competition in the Rear View.
Marmon defied racing norms by crafting a single-seater car, shedding the weight of the engineer for enhanced speed and aerodynamics. To address safety concerns, Harroun ingeniously added the first known rearview mirror in automotive history.
Another pivotal factor was Marmon’s tire strategy. Blown tires wasted precious seconds, so their engineers opted for a slower but safer pace. The result? The Wasp made four pit stops with zero blowouts, unlike their second-place competitor that needed fourteen tires changed.
Building on Our Heritage.
We launched an ambitious project that builds on Marmon’s rich history of innovation: creating a replica of the 1911 Marmon Wasp to carry its groundbreaking spirit into the present—and future.
This exciting endeavor in rebuilding history is being brought to life by our diverse team of Marmon Wasp Engineers, each chosen for their unique backgrounds and skills, and representing five of our eleven industry groups.
Innovation Then And Now
Marmon Motor Car’s highly disciplined approach worked — combining innovation, differentiation and an intense focus on what mattered most to winning.
While the company did not survive the Great Depression, the Marmon business name continued when Walter Marmon started a new company called Marmon-Herrington. By the early 1960s, Marmon-Herrington was one of a dozen industrial businesses owned by the Pritzker family of Chicago. In 1964, the Marmon name was chosen for the growing group of companies.
More than a century after Ray Harroun drove the Wasp to victory, Marmon Holdings is still growing and innovating. Thanks to the quality of our people and their commitment to providing the customer with innovative, practical solutions, we are still winning, too.