Martin-Spéciale
Encyclopedia
The Martin was a car developed in Paris
by Eugène Martin
. Only a handful were made.
Eugène Martin (1915 – 2006) is best remembered as a racing driver. However, he was also a senior and long standing engineer with the French carburettor manufacturer, Solex
. He had an exceptional understanding of carburetion issues in particular and of engines in general, and was recognised by colleagues as a talented trouble shooter in technical matters. He was also the director, along with his father, of a Paris based garage in the Avenue Ledru-Rolin and here, in the 1950s, he began to specialise in developing performance versions of the Peugeot 203
: the 203 was hugely popular at the time and by 1950 had, despite its size, become France’s second best selling car .
From improving the performance of customers' Peugeots it seemed a natural progression to develop his own car, and the (Peugeot 203 based) Martin-Spéciale was an elegant two-door coupé, designed by Martin, and presented at the Paris Motor Show in October 1952. The Peugeot suspension was reinforced and the Peugeot engine had its capacity increased from 1290 cc to approximately 1500 cc. The extensive use made of Peugeot parts promised a car that would retail at a competitive price.
Unfortunately, however, Eugène Martin never got through the hurdles necessary to put his promising design into series production. Nevertheless, its appearance at the Motor Show attracted the attention of Jacques Bernard
of Salmson
, and Martin found himself invited to take charge of the technical development of Salmson’s own contender in the coupé sector. The result was the Salmson 2300 Sport. In the end this would turn out to be the last car produced by Salmson, but it nevertheless enjoyed commercial success ahead of anything achieved by the Martin-Spéciale, and also competed, from 1955, over three successive years in the Le Mans 24 Hour Race
.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
by Eugène Martin
Eugène Martin
Eugène Martin was a racing driver from France. He participated in two Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on May 13, 1950. He scored no championship points....
. Only a handful were made.
Eugène Martin (1915 – 2006) is best remembered as a racing driver. However, he was also a senior and long standing engineer with the French carburettor manufacturer, Solex
Solex
Solex was a French manufacturer of carburetors and the powered bicycle VéloSoleX.The Solex company was founded by Marcel Mennesson and Maurice Goudard to manufacture vehicle radiators...
. He had an exceptional understanding of carburetion issues in particular and of engines in general, and was recognised by colleagues as a talented trouble shooter in technical matters. He was also the director, along with his father, of a Paris based garage in the Avenue Ledru-Rolin and here, in the 1950s, he began to specialise in developing performance versions of the Peugeot 203
Peugeot 203
The Peugeot 203 is a medium sized car which was produced by the French manufacturer Peugeot between 1948 and 1960.The car was exhibited at the Paris Motor Show in 1947, but by then had already been under development for more than five years...
: the 203 was hugely popular at the time and by 1950 had, despite its size, become France’s second best selling car .
From improving the performance of customers' Peugeots it seemed a natural progression to develop his own car, and the (Peugeot 203 based) Martin-Spéciale was an elegant two-door coupé, designed by Martin, and presented at the Paris Motor Show in October 1952. The Peugeot suspension was reinforced and the Peugeot engine had its capacity increased from 1290 cc to approximately 1500 cc. The extensive use made of Peugeot parts promised a car that would retail at a competitive price.
Unfortunately, however, Eugène Martin never got through the hurdles necessary to put his promising design into series production. Nevertheless, its appearance at the Motor Show attracted the attention of Jacques Bernard
Jacques Bernard
Jacques Bernard , French theologian and publicist, was born at Nions in Dauphiné.Having studied at Geneva, he returned to France in 1679, and was chosen minister of Venterol in Dauphiné. Afterwards, he removed to the church of Vinsobres...
of Salmson
Salmson
Salmson was a French engineering company, initially in the automobile and aeroplane manufacturing area,turning to pump manufacturing in the 1960s.-History:...
, and Martin found himself invited to take charge of the technical development of Salmson’s own contender in the coupé sector. The result was the Salmson 2300 Sport. In the end this would turn out to be the last car produced by Salmson, but it nevertheless enjoyed commercial success ahead of anything achieved by the Martin-Spéciale, and also competed, from 1955, over three successive years in the Le Mans 24 Hour Race
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
.