Automotive legend Corky Coker has long admired the Marmon Wasp, winner of the first-ever Indianapolis 500 and the symbol of our company’s long history of innovation. In fact, Corky completed his own replica Marmon Wasp in 2011! We knew he would be the perfect person to help us in the quest to recreate our own version of the iconic race car.
Photo Caption: Marmon Wasp Engineers meet with Corky Coker at his garage in Chattanooga, Tennessee in November 2023, as they begin the Marmon Wasp build project. Marmon Wasp Engineers featured: Tom Hewer, Josh Haynes, Ryan VanLeeuwen, Chris Fangman, Stephen Dike, Alex Sparks, Thérèse Stevens Source: Marmon
Alex Sparks receives driving advice from Corky from behind the wheel of the Marmon Wasp MWE featured: Alex Sparks Source: Marmon
Chris Fangman gearing up to drive the Marmon Wasp MWE featured: Chris Fangman Source: Marmon
Team lead Tom Hewer driving the Marmon Wasp MWE featured: Tom Hewer Source: Marmon
Crash Course: Rebuilding Vintage Cars
We sent a team of Marmon Wasp Engineers to Corky’s shop in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for a crash course in rebuilding vintage cars. They had a hand in everything from carving period-appropriate wooden spokes for the wheels to installing the car’s classic yellow shell. Even the engine was built from the ground up.
Marmon Wasp shell being prepared at Corky’s workshop Source: Revma Media
Alex Sparks and Thérèse Stevens carrying the shell for the Marmon Wasp MWEs featured: Alex Sparks and Thérèse Stevens Source: Marmon
A nearly completed Marmon Wasp replica Source: Revma Media
Left-side inner parts of the wheel being prepped Source: Revma Media
Tom Hewer and Stephen Dike prepare the wood spokes used for the wheels MWEs featured: Stephen Dike and Tom Hewer Source: Marmon
One of the replica Marmon Wasp’s wheels, ready for installation Source: Revma Media
Assembly of Marmon’s own replica Marmon Wasp continues Source: Revma Media
Ryan VanLeeuwen, Chris Fangman, and Josh Haynes collaborating on the Marmon Wasp build MWEs featured: Ryan VanLeeuwen, Chris Fangman, and Josh Haynes Source: Marmon
Finished body of the Marmon Wasp Source: Revma Media
A Complete Replica Marmon Wasp
But all the hard work was worth it! We’re excited to announce that our very own replica Marmon Wasp is finally complete. Seeing it side-by-side with Corky’s is like stepping straight back into 1911 –– Ray Harroun himself wouldn’t know the difference!
Stay tuned to find out what road we’ll travel on the Marmon Wasp adventure next! Click here to learn about our history of innovation from 1911 through today, and here to discover the world of opportunity and experience that is within reach at Marmon.
Side by Side of Marmon’s and Corky’s finished replica Wasps for comparison
