Designed by Ernst Loof in 1949, the Veritas Meteor was a monoposto or single-seater with free-standing wheels. It was built to comply with Formula 2 regulations, which served as the basis for the automobile world championship in 1952 and 1953. These regulations permitted naturally aspirated engines up to 2000 cm³ or supercharged engines up to 500 cm³.
The Meteor’s engine was manufactured by Heinkel and based on the BMW 328 six-cylinder unit. Former BMW employees Karl Schäfer, Karl Rech, and Max Knoch developed the engine, which featured a displacement of 1,988 cc with a 75 mm bore and stroke. A distinctive feature was the overhead camshaft controlling V-shaped valves in the cylinder head. The water-cooled engine produced 140 hp at 7000 rpm and utilized dry-sump lubrication.
The chassis consisted of a tube lattice or trellis tube frame. Front suspension utilized double triangular links with longitudinal torsion bars, while the rear featured a double-jointed axle with torsion-bar springs. From 1952, a De Dion support tube was added behind the differential. Power was delivered via a single-plate dry clutch and a five-speed gearbox equipped with a specialized oil pump. To accommodate different circuits, the gear ratios could be adjusted by changing the gears of the self-locking differential.
While the standard Meteor featured free-standing wheels, several streamlined variants were produced. In 1950, the Hebmüller bodywork factory created a streamlined body for Karl Kling. In 1951, Kling passed this car to Hans Klenk, who later commissioned a traditional open-wheel body for use on maneuverable courses.
Another streamlined version was built by Veritas at the Nürburgring for Paul Pietsch. Unlike the Hebmüller design, Pietsch’s car featured a closed cockpit and was designed to be fitted over the existing racing body. However, this car was severely damaged during practice for the 1952 Avus race.
The Veritas Meteor made its first World Championship appearance at the 1951 Swiss Grand Prix with driver Peter Hirt. Although the car met Formula 2 specifications, it was permitted to enter alongside two English HWM cars. Hirt was unable to start the race due to a defective fuel pump.
Following the relocation of the company to the Nürburgring under Ernst Loof, the Meteor was deployed in various rounds of the Drivers' World Championship in 1952 and 1953. The best result for a Veritas vehicle during this period was achieved by Fritz Riess, who finished seventh at the 1952 German Grand Prix driving a Veritas RS. In 1953, Hans Herrmann drove a Meteor with a traditional open-wheel body at the German Grand Prix.
The final appearance of the design in a World Championship event occurred in 1954. Hans Klenk entered a modified version known as the Klenk Meteor for the German Grand Prix. Driven by Theo Helfrich, the car retired on the ninth lap.
The Veritas Meteor did not achieve significant success in the primary World Championship, a fact attributed to the financial instability of the Veritas company. The firm ceased production in 1953 and subsequently closed.
Despite its poor showing in Formula One, the Meteor and other Veritas models were highly successful in regional competition. The brand achieved 71 class victories in circuit and mountain races across Germany, including the Allied Occupation Zones, the Federal Republic of Germany, the GDR, and Saarland. Additional class victories were recorded in Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Sweden, France, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Italy, Yugoslavia, and Denmark.
In 1950, Émile Cornet became the Belgian champion while competing in Veritas machinery. The cars remained in active racing use through the 1960s.
In addition to open-wheel racing, Veritas founder Ernst Loof utilized the brand's engineering in rallying. He competed in the 1953 Monte Carlo Rally using a Veritas Nürburgring with co-driver Josef Cremer. Following the dissolution of Veritas, Loof joined BMW, entering the 1954 Monte Carlo Rally in a BMW 501.
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