Howard Marmon started Marmon Car Company in 1902. Their sport vehicles were serious competitors at the Indianapolis 500 Motor Speedway from 1909-1913, winning the title in 1911. Marmon was also in charge of the government's feasibility study on mammoth multi-cylinder engines for aircraft use until the end of WW1. The company was notable for the unique use of multiple alloys to reduce weight in their vehicles. From 1931-1933, Marmon produced an aluminum-block V-16 engine for their Phaeton, the only serious competitor to Cadillac's release of their 1930 V-16 Roadster. The Marmon V-16 was 18'2.4" long, one of the longest production luxury cars ever built, and even with an aluminum block engine, weighed in at just over 5500 lbs curb weight.

Unfortunately, the stock market crash of 1929 had so seriously damaged the economy, Marmon was unable to maintain sales enough to continue production, until at last, only he, his VP Jack Rodgers (my great-uncle), and some office help were all that was left of the car company remaining to sell off the last of their inventory. Submitted by member Steve Meyer.