The classic car community lost one of its great champions on July 3, when Martin Swig passed away as a result of a stroke. He was 78.
A lifetime native of the San Francisco Bay area, Swig went to work for European Motors—selling Alfa Romeos and Fiats—after graduating from Stanford with a degree in Economics. Over time, Swig was able to parlay that experience into opening his own dealership, which grew to become the San Francisco Auto Center, one of the nation’s first true, multi-marque auto malls.
Swig’s business success enabled him to indulge his life-long passion for classic cars. After year’s of participation in various historic race meetings and rallies, Swig took part in the 1982 Mille Miglia, which he so thoroughly enjoyed that he decided that a similar type of event should be held in Northern California. The result was the California Mille, which has grown to become one of the world’s premier classic car rallies.
Swig’s character and impact on the hobby is perhaps best summed up by long-time friend and 24 Hours of LeMons co-founder John Lamm, “He was charismatic, whip-smart, irascible, entrepreneurial, knowledgeable, entertaining, tasteful, profane, generous,
obstinate, hilarious and scarily talented. He drove everything fast, no matter how slow it should be, and he owned every room he walked into. Martin did not do half-measures. Here’s what I care about. If it wasn’t for Martin, I’d have never met most of the people I care about now. If it wasn’t for Martin, LeMons would never have happened. If it wasn’t for Martin, there’d be no widely accepted assertion that every car out there—old and new, cheap and expensive, common and rare, fantastic and awful—exists to be driven. Even if you never met the guy, you’re enjoying the world he created. Thanks for everything,
Martin. We’ll miss you at the end of the drive.”
