The National Historic Vehicle Register’s (NHVR) display in Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation will feature a new vehicle starting this month as part of The Henry Ford’s partnership with the Hagerty Drivers Foundation. The 1911 Marmon Wasp is on display in the NHVR exhibition space now through November.
The Wasp, winner of the inaugural Indianapolis 500-mile race in 1911, is one of America’s most significant race cars. Ray Harroun, an engineer and race car driver custom-built and drove the single-seat Marmon to victory.
It is believed to be among the first cars to utilize a rearview mirror which allowed Harroun a slight advantage in that he did not have a passenger “riding mechanic” watching traffic behind him.
The NHVR rotating exhibit is part of a partnership between The Henry Ford and the Hagerty Drivers Foundation to display cars from the National Historic Vehicle Register that tell the story of the automobile in American history. The yellow #32 1911 Marmon Wasp, owned by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, was added to the National Historic Vehicle Register in 2016.
The NHVR display is included with admission to Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. For more information and updates on hours and tickets, visit thf.org.
