Mayster & AMM Company Thread (Mara performance division) V2.0

Table of Contents

1. Company Overview
2. Mayster Triumf
3. Mayster - Racing & Prototypes (-1990)
4. Mayster - Other Activities (-1990)
5. Mara-AMM models and racing activities (1990s and 2000s)
6. Mara-AMM models and racing activities (2010s)

Company Overview

Beginnings

From early on in life even before the war, Archanan marine engineer Andriy Mayster Sr. had a dream: to build and drive a lightweight roadster with excellent handling. While he had always had a clear idea how he would build the car, he faced two problems however: he lived in Archana and he had no money. The latter problem was solved in the late 1950s when he inherited a medium piece of land from his uncle on the shores of Lake Mara near Glensk.

Despite all odds, he managed to get a loan from the bank against the land and he started Mayster Avto Manufaktura in January 1960 together with a few of his engineer friends back from university. In a small shed, they set out to design the detailed blueprints for what would become the Mayster Triumf and built a large workshop (you could almost call it a tiny factory) next to it on the land, just large enough to assemble 2-3 cars at a time.

The shed (and workshop to the right) where everything began

Since Andrej had experience in building boat hulls out of fibreglass, the Mayster Triumf got a fibreglass body, built on an aluminium space frame. His friend Nataliya Karova was part of the team that had developed flat-4 and flat-6 engines for the first generation of post-war light Archanan aeroplanes, and thus she was the main driving force in developing the Triumf’s initial 1.6 litre flat-4 engine, based on the Continov A65 pre-war aircraft engine block. Engine manufacturing also was outsourced to Continov, thanks to Nataliya’s connections.

Nataliya also managed to secure a surplus of yellow paint that had originally been ordered for painting the Archanan aircraft roundels on planes, but turned out to be in the wrong shade of yellow. Hence, the customer could get their initial Triumfs in any colour, as long as it was yellow. Later, this colour had become Mayster’s signature colour, and so they stuck to it as the default colour throughout the Triumf’s production run.

1960s: Sales and Expansion

Main article: Mayster Triumf

The result of Mayster’s efforts was like no other car in Archana in 1961. While there was almost nil realistic interest in the car in their home country, the first prototype versions managed to garner some interest among the Dalluhan car scene - especially since they would essentially never need the softtop anyway. Also, as luck would have it, the Fruinian markets opened in January 1960 and Fruinian gentleman racers found the Triumf to be an attractive proposition as well. The opening of the Fruinian market was also essential to secure a steady supply of radial tyres.

After word of their creation had gotten around in the neighbouring countries, the 1960s saw a rapid expansion. Sales of the first two years were enough so that they could expand their workshop substantially while working on the first substantial Triumf facelift, reaching outputs almost worth of a small factory after the teething troubles were sorted out in 1964.

The expanded Mayster manufactory (on the right) in the early 1970s. The original shed had been torn down at some point.

For that first facelift, Mayster expanded the product line to include a lighter coupe, offered a larger engine and devoted considerable efforts to develop competition versions for racing leagues in their target markets - which in turn fueled sales. A slight decline in sales towards the end of the decade prompted Mayster to work on the second facelift.

1970s and 1980s

1970 saw the debut of the second facelift (the S2, sometimes also called the series 3) which carefully updated the Triumf coupe and roadster but kept the overall winning formula (figuratively and - at least for the 1960s - literally).

A Series 2 Triumf roadster

With the modified sports car racing classes being supplanted by pure prototype racers with larger engines, Triumfs got increasingly outclassed on the track with some racing series getting cancelled altogether. Mayster also moved into prototype racing, but they started on the back foot compared to more technologically advanced and financially backed racing outfits.

While the core market of a light 2-seater sports car remained somewhat stable early in the 1970s, Mayster also tried their hand in developing other variants, such as long-wheelbase 2+2 seaters or a shooting brake (called GT) - but still based on 1960s spaceframe & fibreglass technology.

Mayster also increasingly ran into issues (perceived and actual) of not meeting minimum safety standards in various countries. Another facelift later in the decade could also do so much to update the ageing platform for the new times.
The market had now shifted more to the purist faction, however, since the Triumf was increasingly lacking amenities compared to the competition.

During the 1980, Andriy’s interest in his car company waned. He had indeed managed to realise his dream and also sell it to others successfully for over two decades. Triumf sales effectively stopped mid-way during the 1980s.

Andriy’s children, Andriy Jr. and Anya had become car engineers in their own right, both working across the lake for Mara Motors. These connections led to Mayster being contracted to help develop convertible versions of the Mara Zorya as well as the venerable Mara Irena, based on Mayster’s experience in producing the Triumf’s softtop convertible version and keeping it available in the safety-conscious Fruinian market.

While neither convertible version was a sales success, this assignment nevertheless paved the way for the future of Mayster.

1990s: Acquisition by Mara

Main article: Mara Motors (V2.0 TBD)

Due to Andriy Jr. and Anya’s connections, Mayster became Mara’s factory performance division in 1990. Mara saw this as one piece of the puzzle to regain international competitiveness after the impending global market liberalisation.

Andriy Jr. and Anya took over the reins of the company in 1990, now renamed to Avtostudiya & Manufaktura Mayster (AMM). Despite all these changes, AMM retained the particular shade of yellow that they had offered since the first Triumf models as their signature colour.

As a last hurrah, a final run of - mostly unchanged - Triumfs was produced in 1990 for the purists in those international markets that have not been able to buy Archanan cars before.

The initial expansion shortly after the takeover by Mara

After the transition, Andriy Sr. could enjoy his retirement, still driving and carefully maintaining one of the very first cars that bore his name, the 1962 Mayster Triumf #0024 - a fitting name for the triumph of his life’s work.

AMM today

Main article: Mara-AMM models and racing activities 1990s

Since the 1990s, AMM has offered performance-oriented variants of Mara’s base models - first starting with crudely tuned engines (the V8s being their favourite) and additional bodywork, but slowly moving towards more sophisticated approaches. They have become renowned for achieving remarkable levels of suspension tuning for performance as well as for comfort while eschewing electronic aids beyond the mandated minimums of first TC and later ESC.

Since the takeover, AMM has further expanded its facilities

AMM is also in charge of supplying racing variants of Mara models to independent racing and rally teams and running a few selected works entries over the years.

Other activities

In the 2020s, AMM became a prominent sponsor of a fledgling Archanan cycling team (Mayster Velosport), due to Anya’s oldest grandson deciding not to follow in the family tradition, but to seek a professional cycling career instead.

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1960-1985: Mayster Triumf

Challenge history: V4.1 Challenges (-2021)

Affordable 1970s sports car challenge (1st round): 1970 Mayster Triumf L: Affordable 1970s Sports Car Challenge Part 2: U.S. Federalization Boogaloo - #87 by AndiD
1967 Weekend Race Car Challenge (5th place): 1967 Mayster Triumf 2.0 Avtosport: 1967 Weekend Race Car Challenge [Finished, results posted] - #55 by AndiD
EABL Unofficial Automation Gacha (car came 3rd on the Toban track, driven by the 1st season winner): 1967 Mayster Triumf Avtosport: Asdasd asda asdasd - #35
Brad’s 70s Convertible Challenge (2nd place): 70s Convertible Challenge (NOVEMBER 12) - #11 by Djadania

Challenge history: V4.2 Challenges (2022-)

Bottom Gear (car afaik not driven by anyone): 1969 Mayster Triumf 2.0 Avtosport: Bottom Drives (AutoBeam Challenge) - #44 by LS_Swapped_Rx-7
ALC2 (reviewed): 1962 Mayster Triumf S0 1.6 Roadster: Automation Legacy Challenge (LOBBYING PART TWO, AND A BONUS ROUND!) - #350 by AndiD
ALC2R (submitted): 1964 Mayster Triumf S1 Group M and 1964 Mayster Triumf S0/S1 Group S: Automation Legacy Challenge (LOBBYING PART TWO, AND A BONUS ROUND!) - #422 by AndiD
CSR 149: Take Me Away (submitted): 1971 Mayster Triumf S2 2.0 Roadster: CSR149: Take Me Away (Complete) - #82 by AndiD


Mayster Triumf
Overview

Manufacturer: Mayster
Production:1960-1985 (estimated)
Assembly: Glensk, Archana

Body and Chassis

Class: Sports car
Layout: FR layout
Body style: Roadster, 2-door coupe

Powertrain

Engine:1.6L and 2.0L flat-4
Transmission: 4-speed manual

Dimensions

Wheelbase: 2.30m
Length: 3.91m
Width: 1.60m
Curb weight: about 750 kg (coupe)
/ 950 kg (roadster)

Origins

Main article: Mayster Company Overview

The Mayster Triumf was the brainchild of Archanan maritime-turned-automotive engineer Andriy Mayster. Against all odds, he managed to establish a tiny car manufacturing operation on the western shores of Lake Mara in the early 1960s together with some of his engineer (and enthusiast) friends.

The result was a car like no other in Archana at the time - and a car essentially without a market in its home country. Mayster therefore relied almost solely on exports in countries with markets open to Archanan products - and on things like handling performance demonstration events (and word of mouth) to actually sell the car.

Mayster’s own maritime engineering experience was instrumental in developing the Triumf’s fibreglass body. The 1.6l flat-4 pushrod engine was based on the block and head of the Continov A65 pre-war aircraft engine (de-stroked to 2.0l) but was otherwise of modern 1960s technology. Production in the necessary small quantities was arranged through Mayster engineers’ personal connections in the Archanan aircraft industry.

Series 0: 1962-1963

The first - and at that time only - Mayster car model went on sale in Fruinia, Dalluha and Araga in 1962. Retroactively called “Series 0”, it was an 85 hp 2-seater convertible with a 4 speed gearbox weighing just above 900 kg. While there was still some room for development in the car, Mayster needed to start sales to keep funding their operation.

The Triumf S0: the initial production model

And since Mayster could get their hands on healthy quantities of surplus yellow paint originally intended for aircraft roundels, customers could get the Triumf S0 in any colour, as long as it was Archanan yellow…

A S0 interior, not quite yet up to the standards of the main competition

Series 1: 1964-1969

Come 1964, Mayster had almost finished their development of their first Triumf facelift (to-be called series 1). The S1 incorporated many lessons learned from the initial production run of Mayster’s first ever car as well as the initial customer feedback. The most visible novel feature of an S1 were larger headlights over the S0 to meet market regulations.

A prototype of the regular production S1 Triumf just outside the shed factory ready for a test drive

One major lesson Mayster had learned quite quickly was that many customers cared more about the driving performance than about just cruising with the softtop down. Hence, the S1 was to be offered as a much weight-reduced coupe in addition to a revised roadster. To keep up performance-wise with the new coupe, the S1 roadster was to receive an increased displacement to 2.0 litres in the same engine block.

Series 2: 1970-1975

The Mayster Triumf series 2 is an incremental update over the series 1 which was launched back in 1964. The lighter (and cheaper) coupe version had turned out to be what people actually wanted in most markets, easily outselling the S1 roadster 3:1 in Fruinia, for instance, and the coupe also was much more suited to any racing needs. Compared to the roadster, there was a substantial weight reduction in the coupe through less need for structural reinforcements as well as the use of magnesium rims and aluminium for exterior accessories as standard.

In the series 1, both variants had already received a twin carburetor as standard compared to the S0, along with a sharper cam to compensate for unleaded fuel, a somewhat sportier suspension tuning and a slightly more refined interior.

Externally, the S2 Triumf can be identified by a less rounded front grille compared to the S1

For the S2, the coupe retained the 1.6 litre engine while the roadster also kept the 2.0 litre engine, both again tuned to achieve roughly the same level of car performance, despite the roadster still being quite a bit heavier.


The interior was further refined to keep up with evolving customer tastes

For both variants, the S2 switched to a straight through exhaust for a sportier note and carried over a disc / disc brake set up from the racing versions, along with a gas-monotube suspension and an improved radio. The S2 also got a basic rear spoiler to help cope with latent oversteer at higher speeds and an optional external reverse light since some markets started demand it. The roadster also got a basic folding mechanism for its convertible roof.

New rear headlamps, rear spoiler and new softtop folding mechanism for the S2

Series 3: 1976-1985

TBD

Mayster Triumf 2+2 and GT

While the 1.6l and 2.0l coupe and roadster remained the bread and butter of Mayster’s sales over their entire lifespan, Mayster also introduced further variants. (TBD)

The GT variant is characterised by a redesigned rear, giving the impression of a much larger car

The 2+2 variant is a long wheelbase variant on an extended spaceframe. It was available as a roadster and a GT version (pictured)

What others say
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Mayster - Racing and Prototypes (-1990)

1960s

1964 Mayster Triumf Group M(odified) and Group S(pecial) for Araga

ALC2R: Automation Legacy Challenge (BONUS ROUND - Racing) - #422 by AndiD

The Aragan Ĉisisto Racing team had run a S0 1.6litre Triumf in selected events towards the end of 1962 and had started collaborating with the shed factory in 1963 on developing the S1 towards being more friendly to a racecar conversion. Ĉisisto also ran an initial full 1963 campaign with a single Modified S0 Triumf. For 1964, Mayster decided to back the Ĉisisto outfit as a semi-works operation to run entries this time for both the Modified and Special category in Araga.

The work is done - the 1964 season Modified (yellow) and Special (black) Triumfs in the workshop

The S1 cars came too late to be homologated for the 1964 season, however, so Ĉisisto were stuck with the heavier convertible (and still a single carb engine) from the S0 for the Modified category. They gained special permission though to run the modified S1 front end to meet the updated endurance headlight regulations for 1964.

The revised 1964 season Modified S0/S1 Triumf exiting a corner on an Archanan B-road

In contrast, the more relaxed rules of the Special category allowed them to enter a no-holds barred (and essentially S1) version of the Triumf coupe ahead of the S1’s official market introduction. The Special was substantially lightened and more powerful than its Modified convertible sibling.

The new Special 1964 S1 Triumf in a high-speed banked corner at Mara’s proving grounds just across the lake from the shed factory

1970s

TBD

1980s

TBD

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Mayster - Other activities before 1990

1985 Mara Zora 1.3t Kabriolet

CSR147 - Out and in the open: CSR147 - Out and In the Open - #53 by AndiD

In the mid 1980s, Mara tasked Archanan boutique car manufacturer Mayster with turning the Mara Zora into a convertible, based on Mayster’s experience with its convertible sports car, the Triumf. To cope with the additional weight, Mayster also boosted the engine’s output through their first application of a turbocharger to a mass production vehicle.

The Mara Zora (or Zorya in its home country) was developed when safety requirements in Mara’s main export markets prevented the continued export of its predecessor, the Tovarysh of 1950s vintage.

Unlike the ‘Tov’, the Zorya was a modern unibody transverse FWD construction. During the Zora’s development, several engine prototypes were tested, but ultimately a modernised version of the venerable 1.3 OHV from the ‘Tov’ was chosen as the best compromise. The Zora had to re-use a few other existing Mara components as well, such as the Tov’s headlight units.

CSR Ad

1987 Mara Irena 2.0 Kabriolet

Cult of Personality Round 5: Cult of Personality ][ : The Boogaloo [LORE][RD 5 FINAL RESULTS] - #323 by AndiD

Despite facing a number of constraints on what they could introduce on their Archanan home market, these constraints had not stopped Mara entirely from trying new things within the space they had. One one such idea was adding an affordable convertible to the Irena line-up. As a convenient means to keep the development low-profile, Mara contracted out the development of the convertible to Mayster.


Old V4.1 picture shown

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Mara-AMM models and racing activities 1990s and 2000s

V4.1 Challenges (-2021)

1992 Mara Bizon LWB 5.0i AMM

Blyz V8 5.0

– 1992 Sports Truck Challenge (19th place): 1992 Sports Truck Challenge [Finished] - #33 by AndiD


1995 Mara Zvezda 2.0 SX AMM

– EABL Unofficial Automation Gacha 2nd season car.


1998 Mara Kavaler Sedan (2nd gen) AMM Millennium Extreme

Blyz Progress AMM Extreme V8 4.6

Wangan Slickers Challenge (1st round): Wangan Slickers Challenge [FINAL PART] - #19 by AndiD

No activities since 4.2

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Mara-AMM models and racing activities 2010s

V4.1 Challenges (-2021)

3rd gen Mara Kavaler Sedan AMM Performance M

Blyz Progress AMM V8 4.6

CSR 137: Life after V8 Falcodore (1st round): CSR 137: Life after (V8) Falcodore (Completed - Results posted) - #101 by AndiD


2018 Mara Reyndzher Kolektyv AMM MPV8

Minivans Are Cool MPV Challenge (1st in Usefulness, 3rd in Pleasantness, 6th overall): "Minivans Are Cool" MPV Challenge [Final Results Finally Posted] - #44 by AndiD

2018 Mara-AMM Xenia 1200 Rally R2

THRS1 (season in progress): Tom Henks Racing Series [Season 6 Finale results] - #26 by AndiD

Main article: Mara Xenia (TBD)

In the 2010s, Mara decided to take the new iteration of its compact car, now called the Xenia, more upmarket. To promote the car (and its new name), Mara tasked their factory performance division AMM with developing a rally version for customer entries in the renowned THRS and other rally and rallycross series.

AMM also decided to enter a works team themselves into THRS, sponsored by UMS, the main rival to Archana’s former state-owned logistics company (and well-known cycling team sponsor) Road and Rail Transport. Rumour has it that part of the deal is the provision of the next generation of the small UMS delivery vans by Mara.

As with the road car, the rally Xenia is powered by the second generation of Mara’s ‘Triyka’ 3-cylinder engine (named after the traditional Archanan way of driving a horse carriage with three horses side-by-side**), now with 1.2l capacity. Turbocharged, the engine puts out 180hp in the rally version, almost double the output over the roadgoing version.

What others say

2020 Mara-AMM Kavaler 4.6 Challenge Ultra:

Main article: Mara Kavaler Mk4 (TBD)

CCPC: 2022 Camshaft Software Crossover Play Competition - FINAL RESULTS - #38 by AndiD

Meme car with 1400 hp for the Camshaft Software Crossover Play Competition


The Challenge Ultra on one last late afternoon test run on a not yet opened brand new part of the Archanan highway system

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Reserved for future use

For what is meant to be an Archanan company, its lore is surprisingly deep.

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Mayster and RAUK sure has some similarities in their history…

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