Wagner, Carl L.: MONTEVERDI

MONTEVERDI Biography and Documentation The Complete Story This narrative represents a many-faceted summary of success. But with many disappointments strewn in among the mainly positive aspects which in total eclipsed the negative ones. It explains how an unconventional, strong-willed and remarkably creative young man became a mechanic. How as an incorrigibly obstinate automobile fan he advanced to the status of an eminently successful racing driver on the international competition scene. And it also describes how this single-minded, highly determined dreamer metamorphosed into a builder of his own racing cars. Furthermore, in accordance with the same verve and determination that enabled him to attain the initial step in Formula-1 as constructor/driver, following a mechanically induced, unfortunate major accident, he continued to pursue his long-time ambition as automobile producer ..., and to become an internationally renowned manufacturer and purveyor of exclusive, high-performance luxury automobiles. It remains to note how it was possible for Peter Monte­verdi, the garage owner and sportscar specialist located in a suburb of the Swiss city of Basel, in but a few yearsʼ time to have been able to break into the ranks of well-established, world-renowned sports- and GT-car manufacturers. What talents and energy, what harbingers of fate had been necessary to have brought this singular Monteverdi career to fruition? These questions had fascinated the two automobile journalists Roger Gloor and Carl L. Wagner, and together with Peter Monteverdi they arranged to write a story covering his career, which culminated with the publication of the first Monteverdi book in 1980. The American automobile journalist and writer Carl L. Wagner, who resided in Basel, interviewed Peter Monteverdi countless times in a span of time covering more than a year. The results were formulated in a biography that ranged from a highly unconventional young man who stood on the threshold of a burgeoning race-driver career – that was enhanced by the construction of his own series of MBM racing cars – to the culmination of his plans for the production of a luxurious GT coupe. Roger Gloor, the native Basel automotive journalist and writer who resided in Bern, undertook the translation from Wagnerʼs English account into German for the German-language edition and continued the story of Monteverdiʼs lifeʼs work that was characterized by the further development of his own Monteverdi-designated brand up to the date of publication at the above-mentioned time. Beside Peter Monteverdiʼs personal reminiscences, countless articles that had appeared in printed matter over the years also served as informative sources. Even though he was only 46 years old in 1980, Monteverdi and his marque had already become vital statistics in automotive history. Quite an amazing performance. But the Monteverdi story continued onwards from the year 1980. It was furthermore closely entwined with automobile racing, as well as with the production of high-performance-, off-road-, and luxury cars. In 1998, much too early, terminal cancer ended Peter Monteverdiʼs adventurous and exciting life. Paul Berger, Peter Monteverdiʼs companion and heir, as well as the firmʼs general manager and the custodian of the Monteverdi heritage, has made it possible for the authors to continue on with the further exciting and diversified developments undertaken by this great Swiss automobile designer and constructor after 1980, thereby providing posterity with the remaining information concerning Monteverdiʼs lifeʼs work. Five informative excerpts from published articles written by the two authors at later dates follow and enhance the chronologically constructed narrative. Concurrently the 40-year-old text of 1980 has received a stylistic “face lift”, so to speak, in which a number of corrections had been made in conjunction with numerous supplementary additions that were considered important. And both authors consider the encounter with Peter Monteverdi, his automobiles and various projects as highlights in their professional careers. Bern and Basel, Carl L. Wagner and Roger Gloor