Martini 1897-1934 - large Swiss Pw stamp
Summary
There were around 10,000 car brands and designers - most of them have disappeared. One of these vanished brands is Martini, the largest Swiss passenger car brand. Martini cars were also sold abroad, but after the First World War, even a new start with its own luxury model in 1931 did not bring the hoped-for upturn.
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Geneva, Neuchâtel and Zurich were once the centers of the Swiss automotive industry. With a production of around 3500 vehicles within 38 years, Martini was the largest Swiss passenger car brand. The Martini company was founded in Frauenfeld in 1860 by Friedrich Ritter von Martini, an immigrant from Bavaria. At the instigation of his son Adolf, the first Martini car was built in 1897. However, it was not until 1902 that a proper large car factory was built in Saint-Blaise near Neuchâtel. Chassis were produced there under a license from the French company Rochet-Schneider, while the engines were delivered from Frauenfeld until 1917. The Martini cars achieved much acclaimed driving performance and racing success and were also sold abroad.
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