Veritas (Automobile)
Encyclopedia
Veritas was a famous West German
post World War II
sports and race car company, located in the village of Hausen am Andelsbach, near Sigmaringen
, Baden-Württemberg
, later at Meßkirch
and Muggensturm
and moved finally to the Nürburgring
.
The company was founded by Ernst Loof
, Georg Meier and Lorenz Dietrich who initially re-built and tuned pre-war BMW 328
cars using components supplied by a customer, turning them into BMW-Veritas cars. The first car was used in 1947 by its owner Karl Kling
to win at Hockenheim
and subsequently become the 1947 German 2-litre champion. After only a few cars were made, following an objection from BMW, the cars became simply known as Veritas.
The company moved to larger premises in Muggensturm in 1949 but were badly under capitalised. New cars were designed using a 1998 cc engine designed Eric Zipprich and built by Heinkel
. Over 200 orders were received for the new car but there was not enough money available to buy the components and production came to a halt in 1950 and the company continued in operation until 1952 by making new bodies for Panhard
cars.
Ernst Loof moved to the Nürburgring in 1950 where he rented the old Auto Union
workshops and set up a new company Automobilwerke Ernst Loof GmbH and started a new range of Veritas cars at first with the Heinkel manufactured engine and saloon or cabriolet coachwork by Spohn. Money quickly ran out however and the final bodies were fitted with Ford
or Opel
engines. The number of cars made at the Nürburgring is estimated as between 6 and 20.
In 2001, a concept known as the Veritas RS3 was shown. With some design cues taken from boats, in which Vermot explored the market at one time, it was well received. It used a BMW sourced 6.0 liter V-12, producing 670 hp.
In 2008, it was announced that Vermot AG was to take serious efforts towards producing the RS III.
Production and testing began in early 2008, with the RS III spotted testing on tracks in May 2008, and Vermot AG has released a general release date for the end of 2008. It runs on a BMW sourced 5.0 liter V-10 that generates 600 hp. Weight will be kept down to 2,360 pounds due to the extensive use of light materials, and performance figures of 0-60 in 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 216 mi/h are likely, according to Vermot AG. Production will be around 50 models per year.
In 2009, at London's Salon Privé, Veritas RS III Roadster super sports car won the "Best Super Car 2009" award. Strictly limited hand production of only 30 vehicles started by Vermot in Gelsdorf.
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
post World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
sports and race car company, located in the village of Hausen am Andelsbach, near Sigmaringen
Sigmaringen
Sigmaringen is a town in southern Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg. Situated on the upper Danube, it is the capital of the Sigmaringen district....
, Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
, later at Meßkirch
Meßkirch
Meßkirch is a town in the district of Sigmaringen in Baden-Württemberg in Germany.Meßkirch was the residence of the counts of Zimmern, widely known through Count Froben Christoph's Zimmern Chronicle ....
and Muggensturm
Muggensturm
Muggensturm is a town in the district of Rastatt in Baden-Württemberg in Germany....
and moved finally to the Nürburgring
Nürburgring
The Nürburgring is a motorsport complex around the village of Nürburg, Germany. It features a modern Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a much longer old North loop track which was built in the 1920s around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel mountains. It is located about...
.
The company was founded by Ernst Loof
Ernst Loof
Ernst Loof was an automotive engineer and racing driver from Neindorf, Germany. He contributed to the design of the BMW 328 sports car in the late 1930s...
, Georg Meier and Lorenz Dietrich who initially re-built and tuned pre-war BMW 328
BMW 328
The BMW 328 is a sports car made by BMW between 1936 and 1940, with the body design credited to Peter Szymanowski, who became BMW chief of design after World War II ....
cars using components supplied by a customer, turning them into BMW-Veritas cars. The first car was used in 1947 by its owner Karl Kling
Karl Kling
Karl Kling was a motor racing driver and manager from Germany. He participated in 11 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 4 July 1954. He achieved 2 podiums, and scored a total of 17 championship points.It is said, that he was born too late and too early...
to win at Hockenheim
Hockenheimring
The Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg is an automobile racing track situated near the town of Hockenheim in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, located on Bertha Benz Memorial Route. Amongst other motor racing events, it biennially hosts the Formula One German Grand Prix...
and subsequently become the 1947 German 2-litre champion. After only a few cars were made, following an objection from BMW, the cars became simply known as Veritas.
Road cars
The first Veritas to be made for normal road use was made in 1949 with the launch of the Komet coupé which was little more than a racing Veritas RS made street legal. It was followed by the more civilised 2+2 Saturn coupé and Scorpion cabriolet.The company moved to larger premises in Muggensturm in 1949 but were badly under capitalised. New cars were designed using a 1998 cc engine designed Eric Zipprich and built by Heinkel
Heinkel
Heinkel Flugzeugwerke was a German aircraft manufacturing company founded by and named after Ernst Heinkel. It is noted for producing bomber aircraft for the Luftwaffe in World War II and for important contributions to high-speed flight.-History:...
. Over 200 orders were received for the new car but there was not enough money available to buy the components and production came to a halt in 1950 and the company continued in operation until 1952 by making new bodies for Panhard
Panhard
Panhard is currently a French manufacturer of light tactical and military vehicles. Its current incarnation was formed by the acquisition of Panhard by Auverland in 2005. Panhard had been under Citroën ownership, then PSA , for 40 years...
cars.
Ernst Loof moved to the Nürburgring in 1950 where he rented the old Auto Union
Auto Union
Auto Union was an amalgamation of four German automobile manufacturers, founded in 1932 and established in 1936 in Chemnitz, Saxony, during the Great Depression. The company has evolved into present day Audi, as a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group....
workshops and set up a new company Automobilwerke Ernst Loof GmbH and started a new range of Veritas cars at first with the Heinkel manufactured engine and saloon or cabriolet coachwork by Spohn. Money quickly ran out however and the final bodies were fitted with Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
or Opel
Opel
Adam Opel AG, generally shortened to Opel, is a German automobile company founded by Adam Opel in 1862. Opel has been building automobiles since 1899, and became an Aktiengesellschaft in 1929...
engines. The number of cars made at the Nürburgring is estimated as between 6 and 20.
Racing cars
A total of 17 privately-entered Veritas cars participated in 5 FIA World Championship races.Today
After a virtual disappearance from motor racing and automotive engineering for nearly 50 years, a small company known as Vermot AG plans on "resurrecting" the Veritas name on a planned model known as the RS III.In 2001, a concept known as the Veritas RS3 was shown. With some design cues taken from boats, in which Vermot explored the market at one time, it was well received. It used a BMW sourced 6.0 liter V-12, producing 670 hp.
In 2008, it was announced that Vermot AG was to take serious efforts towards producing the RS III.
Production and testing began in early 2008, with the RS III spotted testing on tracks in May 2008, and Vermot AG has released a general release date for the end of 2008. It runs on a BMW sourced 5.0 liter V-10 that generates 600 hp. Weight will be kept down to 2,360 pounds due to the extensive use of light materials, and performance figures of 0-60 in 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 216 mi/h are likely, according to Vermot AG. Production will be around 50 models per year.
In 2009, at London's Salon Privé, Veritas RS III Roadster super sports car won the "Best Super Car 2009" award. Strictly limited hand production of only 30 vehicles started by Vermot in Gelsdorf.
World Championship results
| Year | Entrant/s | Chassis | Engine | Driver/s | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUI 1951 Swiss Grand Prix The 1951 Swiss Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at the Bremgarten on May 27, 1951. It was the first round of the 1951 World Drivers' Championship. The race saw the Formula One debut of British driver Stirling Moss.-Qualifying:-Race:... |
500 1951 Indianapolis 500 The 1951 Indianapolis 500 an automobile race which was held on Wednesday, May 30, 1951 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The event was the opening race of the 1951 AAA National Championship Trail and the second race of the 1951 World Championship of Drivers.... |
BEL 1951 Belgian Grand Prix The 1951 Belgian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on June 17, 1951 at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. It was the third round of the 1951 World Drivers' Championship.- Race report :... |
FRA 1951 French Grand Prix The 1951 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Reims-Gueux on 1 July 1951. It was the fourth round of the 1951 World Drivers' Championship and was won by Juan Manuel Fangio and Luigi Fagioli driving an Alfa Romeo... |
GBR 1951 British Grand Prix The 1951 British Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 14 July 1951 at the Silverstone Circuit in Buckinghamshire, England. It was the fifth round of the 1951 World Drivers' Championship... |
GER 1951 German Grand Prix The 1951 German Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on July 29, 1951 at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. It was the sixth round of the 1951 World Drivers' Championship.-Qualifying:-Race:- Drivers' Championship standings after the race :... |
ITA 1951 Italian Grand Prix The 1951 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on September 16, 1951 at Monza. It was the seventh round of the 1951 World Drivers' Championship.-Qualifying:-Race:- Notes :* Pole position: Juan Manuel Fangio - 1:53.2... |
ESP 1951 Spanish Grand Prix The 1951 Spanish Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on October 28, 1951 at Pedralbes Circuit. It was the eighth and final round of the 1951 World Drivers' Championship.... |
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| Privateer | Meteor | Veritas Straight-6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
 Peter HirtPeter Hirt Peter Hirt was a racing driver from Küsnacht, Switzerland. He participated in five World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 27 May 1951. He scored no championship points.He was a member of the Ecurie Espadon.... |
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| SUI 1952 Swiss Grand Prix The 1952 Swiss Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on May 18, 1952 at Bremgarten Circuit. It was the first round of the 1952 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.-Qualifying:-Race:- Notes :* Pole... |
500 1952 Indianapolis 500 The 1952 Indianapolis 500 was an automobile race held on Friday, May 30, 1952 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The event was the second round of the 1952 World Drivers' Championship. Troy Ruttman won the race, bringing the Borg-Warner Trophy home for car owner J.C. Agajanian.Bill Vukovich led... |
BEL 1952 Belgian Grand Prix The 1952 Belgian Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on June 22, 1952 at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. It was the third round of the 1952 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.-Qualifying:-Race:-... |
FRA 1952 French Grand Prix The 1952 French Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on July 6, 1952 at Rouen-Les-Essarts. It was the fourth round of the 1952 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.-Qualifying:-Race:- Notes :* Pole... |
GBR 1952 British Grand Prix The 1952 British Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on July 19, 1952 at Silverstone Circuit. It was the fifth round of the 1952 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.-Qualifying:-Race:-Drivers'... |
GER 1952 German Grand Prix The 1952 German Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on August 3, 1952 at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. It was the sixth round of the 1952 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.- Race report :Sadly... |
NED 1952 Dutch Grand Prix The 1952 Dutch Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on August 17, 1952 at the Circuit Zandvoort. It was the seventh round of the 1952 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.- Race report :Mike... |
ITA 1952 Italian Grand Prix The 1952 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on September 7, 1952 at Monza. It was the eighth and final round of the 1952 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.- Race report :Juan Manuel... |
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| Privateers | Meteor RS |
BMW BMW Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands... Straight-6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... Veritas Straight-6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
 Toni UlmenToni Ulmen Toni Ulmen was a racing driver from Düsseldorf, Germany. He participated in 2 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on May 18, 1952. He scored no championship points.... |
Ret | 8 | ||||||||
 Arthur LegatArthur Legat Arthur Legat was a racing driver from Haine-Saint-Paul, Belgium. He participated in two Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 21 June 1953. He scored no championship points.... |
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| Josef Peters |
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| Hans Klenk Hans Klenk Hans Klenk was a racing driver from Germany. He participated in one World Championship Formula One Grand Prix on August 3, 1952 and did not score any championship points.... |
11 | ||||||||||||
| Adolf Brudes Adolf Brudes Adolf Brudes was a Formula One driver from Germany. He participated in one World Championship Grand Prix, on August 3, 1952, but scored no championship points. He also participated in several non-Championship Formula One races.He was more successful driving sports cars... |
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| Theo Helfrich Theo Helfrich Theodor "Theo" Helfrich was a racing driver from Germany. He participated in three World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 3 August 1952, but scored no championship points... |
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| Fritz Riess Fritz Riess Fritz Riess or Rieß was a racing driver from Germany. He participated in one Formula One World Championship Grand Prix, on August 3, 1952... |
7 | ||||||||||||
| Motor-Presse-Verlag | Meteor | Veritas Straight-6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
Paul Pietsch Paul Pietsch Paul Pietsch is a former racing driver from Germany and founder of the magazine Das Auto.-Biography:Born in Freiburg, Pietsch began his racing career in 1932 with a private Bugatti and Alfa Romeo.... |
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| ARG 1953 Argentine Grand Prix The 1953 Argentine Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on January 18, 1953 at the Autódromo Juan y Óscar Gálvez, Buenos Aires. It was the first round of the 1953 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally... |
500 1953 Indianapolis 500 The 1953 Indianapolis 500 was an automobile race held on Saturday, May 30, 1953 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The event was the second round of the 1953 World Drivers' Championship.-Race:... |
NED 1953 Dutch Grand Prix The 1953 Dutch Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on June 7, 1953 at the Circuit Zandvoort. It was the third round of the 1953 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.- Race report :The Ferraris... |
BEL 1953 Belgian Grand Prix The 1953 Belgian Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on June 21, 1953 at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. It was the fourth round of the 1953 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.- Race report :A... |
FRA 1953 French Grand Prix The 1953 French Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on July 5, 1953 at Reims-Gueux. It was the fifth round of the 1953 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.... |
GBR 1953 British Grand Prix The 1953 British Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on 18 July 1953 at Silverstone Circuit. It was the sixth round of the 1953 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.- Classification :- Drivers'... |
GER 1953 German Grand Prix The 1953 German Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on August 2, 1953 at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. It was the seventh round of the 1953 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.- Classification :-... |
SUI 1953 Swiss Grand Prix The 1953 Swiss Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on August 23, 1953 at Bremgarten Circuit. It was the eighth round of the 1953 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.It marked the brief return of... |
ITA 1953 Italian Grand Prix The 1953 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on September 13, 1953 at Monza. It was the ninth and final round of the 1953 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used... |
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| Privateers | Meteor RS |
Veritas Straight-6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
Arthur Legat Arthur Legat Arthur Legat was a racing driver from Haine-Saint-Paul, Belgium. He participated in two Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 21 June 1953. He scored no championship points.... |
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| Erwin Bauer Erwin Bauer Erwin Bauer was a German Formula One driver who raced a privately-entered Veritas in his one World Championship Grand Prix.... |
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| Ernst Loof Ernst Loof Ernst Loof was an automotive engineer and racing driver from Neindorf, Germany. He contributed to the design of the BMW 328 sports car in the late 1930s... |
Ret | ||||||||||||
| Oswald Karch Oswald Karch Oswald Karch was a former racing driver from Germany. He participated in one World Championship Formula One Grand Prix, the 1953 German Grand Prix. He retired from the race, scoring no championship points.- Complete Formula One World Championship results :... |
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| Willi Heeks Willi Heeks Willi Heeks was a racing driver from Germany. He participated in 2 World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on August 3, 1952. He scored no championship points.-Complete World Championship results:... |
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| Theo Helfrich Theo Helfrich Theodor "Theo" Helfrich was a racing driver from Germany. He participated in three World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 3 August 1952, but scored no championship points... |
12 | ||||||||||||
| Wolfgang Seidel Wolfgang Seidel Wolfgang Seidel was a racing driver from Germany. He participated in 12 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 2 August 1953... |
16 | ||||||||||||
| Hans Klenk | Meteor | Veritas Straight-6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
Hans Herrmann Hans Herrmann Hans Herrmann is a former Formula One and Sports car racing driver from Stuttgart, Germany.In F1, he participated in 19 World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on August 2, 1953... |
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