31 marca 2025 | Piotr R. Frankowski

Tadek Marek: Opel Olympia in the Monte Carlo Rally 1939 [Part 3] 

Poles participated in the Monte Carlo Rally long before the creation of the FSO Sports Department. Among the competitors who took part in this event before the outbreak of World War II was the tireless engineer, without whom the British automotive industry, including today’s, would be much poorer. His name was Tadeusz Marek. In his honor, in 2025, we will drive the same route in a vintage Opel Olympia, identical to the one that the long-time technical director of Aston Martin drove to Monte Carlo in 1939… 

A new chapter of his career

In 1939, Marek changed jobs and joined the design department of the Warsaw factory of Lilpop, Rau & Loewenstein. But what were 20 engineers and technicians doing in a factory that assembled Chevrolet, Buick and Opel passenger cars, as well as Chevrolet and Opel trucks? Their work involved adapting these vehicles’ components to the conditions of Polish roads, incorporating domestically produced parts (that same year, an engine manufacturing plant was opened), and developing local designs based on General Motors’ constructions. Among these was the Chevrolet Model 157 semi-truck—perhaps Tadeusz Marek worked on it? 

Opel from Poland

Monte Carlo Rally 1939: He competed in a Warsaw-assembled Opel Olympia (which he later reportedly called a terrible car). He drove alongside his older colleague, Witold Pajewski. Upon closer examination, Pajewski turns out to be a truly fascinating figure: he fought as a tank crewman in the September Campaign, was active in the Home Army, and after the war—despite Stalinist repression—helped rebuild motorsports in Silesia, including initiating the construction of a factory producing SAM racing cars, which utilized repurposed German aviation materials. 

The only crew that did not disappoint expectations even once was the Marek-Pajewski pair, competing in an Opel Olympia. These drivers completed the route in excellent condition and with the maximum number of points. Thanks to an outstanding acceleration and braking test, they moved up to third place in their class, and after the mountain trial, they ultimately secured fifth place in the category of cars up to 1,500cc. In doing so, they outperformed all British cars, as well as many Lancias and Fiats. 

~ Excerpt from „18 Rallye Monte Carlo”, Edward Sokopp, Auto No. 2 / 1939 

Telegram

But let’s return to the chronology. Like several other Polish teams, Marek and Pajewski chose to start from Tallinn. They drove flawlessly, navigating long stretches in dense fog, and finished the rally in an impressive 32nd place overall. At the same time, they secured fifth place in their class—the best result ever achieved by Poles in the legendary competition up to that point. The management of the Lilpop factory sent a congratulatory telegram to the Polish crew, a copy of which holds a place of honor in the private album of the future creator of Aston Martin engines. 

The last such rally

After his success in Monte Carlo, Tadeusz Marek began preparing for another major and prestigious event: the 12th International Rally of the Automobile Club of Poland. This time, he once again competed in a vehicle from his employer—a powerful Chevrolet Master Sedan—as a member of the official Chevrolet team. 

He managed to win the large car class, earning several trophies—including one sponsored by President Mościcki, which was presented to the engineer by the president of the Automobile Club of Poland, Deputy Minister of Transport Julian Piasecki. Another interesting trophy came from the Maritime and Colonial League. Three priceless cups from 1939 are now part of the Aston Martin Heritage Trust collection in the UK, loaned by the family. A photo from the award ceremony at the end of the last pre-war Polish Rally clearly shows one of the preserved trophies, likely taken from Poland to the UK during a visit in 1960. 

Read the remaining parts of engineer Tadeusz Marek’s biography.

Author: Piotr R. Frankowski