The Historic Vehicle Association (HVA) has announced that the Marmon Wasp (above, Chris Graythen/gettyimages photo, courtesy of HVA) that won the very first Indianapolis 500-Mile Race back in 1911 will be included on the HVA’s National Historic Vehicle Register, preserving another important chapter in America’s automotive heritage. The Wasp is currently being measured and documented by the HVA using the guidelines set forth by the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Heritage Documentation and the Historic American Engineering Record (HAER). Once complete, the material will reside permanently in the Library of Congress, joining that of other iconic cars such as the Shelby Cobra Daytona prototype, the first Meyers Manx dune buggy and one of the last surviving Futurliners.
“The yellow #32 Marmon Wasp is arguably one of the best known racecars in America,” said Mark Gessler, President of the Historic Vehicle Association. “The 1911 race was the inauguration of a single, large-scale event designed to attract widespread attention from both American and European racing teams and manufacturers. It proved to be a successful event, immediately establishing itself both as the premier motorsports competition in the nation, and one of the most prestigious in the world.”
The documentation of the Marmon Wasp on the National Historic Vehicle Register is being organized by the HVA and underwritten by Hagerty Insurance and Shell Oil, including its Pennzoil and Quaker State brands.
