Researching the Swaab Special Ermini

• 
• 

In 1956 Jaap Luyendijk did several races with a Fiat Ermini in Holland and possibly also a few in the England. He sold the car to John Swaab, who used the engine and most other mechanical parts to build a new car known as the Swaab Special with its design inspired by the Ferrari 500. He raced the car various times until the Ermini engine broke up altogether. He wanted to order a new engine from Ermini, but they didn't make it anymore. So Swaab made his own full copy of the engine, even made his own casting molds. The current owner in Austria who is undertaking a meticulous rebuild of the Swaab Ermini Special is urgently looking for all documents relating to this car. More specific the Dutch magazine AutoVisie No.11-1 June 1956, No. 1-11 January 1957 and No. 15-25 July 1958. Also there seems to be a photoalbum which was lent out to the son of another dutch racing ace Henk van Zalinge (link) and has disappeared since. Anybody who can help digging up materials about this most interesting one-off is very welcome.

Make a comment, ask a question, give your opinion, share additional information or start a discussion by filling in the fields below.