Martin Wasp

The Martin Wasp is an American automobile which was hand built by the Martin-Wasp company in the state of Vermont. Created by Karl Hamlin Martin of Bennington it is a touring car.[1]

The first Martin Wasp was done just in time for National Automobile Week in New York City and was exhibited at the Commodore Hotel in January, 1920. It was enthusiastically received. Douglas Fairbanks Sr. bought one. The car is Series B, body style, Rickshaw Victoria. It has a dark green body, off-white canvas top, chrome hood, and red leather upholstery.

The company only made twenty five cars and to date has been Vermont's only resident automobile manufacturer.[2]

The car was built between 1919 and 1924.[3] Only three Martin-Wasps survive one of which is on display at the Bennington Museum in Bennington, Vermont.  In 2019 a 1921 Martin Wasp with a replacement engine was sold at Bonhams auction house in New York City for $51,520 US (with buyers premium).  This Martin Wasp was sold by the Tupelo Automobile Museum in Tupelo, Mississippi in whose collection it had been in since 1994.[4]

References
  1. "Automobile". bennington.pastperfectonline.com.
  2. "Vanderbilt Cup Races - Blog - Mystery Auto Foto #40 Solved: A 1924 Wasp Touring Car Built in Bennington, Vermont". www.vanderbiltcupraces.com.
  3. Strohl, Daniel (December 21, 2009). "In search of the birthplace of the Martin Wasp". www.hemmings.com. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  4. "Bonhams : 1921 Martin Wasp Model B Rickshaw VictoriaChassis no. 1368". www.bonhams.com.
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