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Racing legend Willi Martini

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Created on September 6, 2011

Reading time 16min

Written by:

Wolfgang Thierack

Photos:

Archiv Wolfgang Thierack

19

Archiv Wolfgang Thierack

19

Der siegreiche BMW 700, links Willi Martini mit seinem Meister

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Will Martini im Formel-Wagen

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Willi Martini am Veritas RS2

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Willi Martini und der Hoffmann Kabinenroller im Jahre 1954

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Juan Manuel Fangio bestellte bei Willi Martini vier BMW 700 Coupés für die Teilnahme am Grand Premio von Argentinien

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Abschleppdienst von Willi Marini auf dem Nürburgring (1961)

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Der ehemalige Martini-Betrieb in Nüburg im Jahre 2005

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Der durch Willi Martini modifizierte BMW 700 RS

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Martini Mini ACS (MK I) in seiner ersten Saison

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Der erste Kunststoffwagen Willi Martinis, ein Martini BMW 700 Coupé

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Prospektentwurf für den Martini BMW 700

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Martini Mini ACS (MK II) - verbessert in die zweite Saison

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Martini Glas 1300 GT (1964)

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Martini Glas 1300 GT (1964)

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Im Jahre 1966 kreierte Willi Martini die Formel M

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Der Martini Formel M vor der Ausstellungshalle am Nürburgring im Jahre 1967

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Ein von Willi Martini auf Basis des BMW 2800 aufgebauten Krankenwagen

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Willi Martini übergibt Ali Schatz im Juni 1974 den Marbo 1.8 CSi

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Der BMW 3.0 CSL von Dr. Demuth im Dezember 1973 vor Willi Martinis Betrieb am Nürburgring

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Summary

Willi Martini began his career as a helper and mechanic for racing drivers, but quickly worked his way up to become a master craftsman, professional tuner and even vehicle builder. This report describes his career and shows his most important works and successes.

This article contains the following chapters

The start at Veritas
For the first time with BMW
Short episode at Hoffmann
Master craftsman's examination at BMW
Own workshop and first own racing car
A professional tuning company
A design by Uwe Bahnsen
The Graf Trips Memorial Hall
The successful Martini BMW 700
The end of BMW 700 production
The Martini Glas 1300 RS and the Martini Mini ACS
The new class without success
The Martini mid-engined sports car
The Formula M
The Martini Brabham Formula 2
The Martini 1600 CS
One-offs and ideas
The M181
In the Rosengarten until the end of its life

Estimated reading time: 16min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Willi Martini was born in the small town of Adenau under the old Nürburg castle on January 6, 1925. His interest turned to gliding at a young age. It was also his ambition to complete the military training in this field that was available to every boy at the time. In 1940, he entered the aviation technical pre-school in Oranienburg. This then evolved into the Luftwaffe Technical Preparatory School in 1942. Not only was gliding taught there, but the construction of airplanes was also taught in theory and practice. After a short period as a prisoner of war, however, the profession he had learned as an aircraft builder had no future and he had to spend several years as a fitter in faraway Stuttgart.

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