The next year Birkigt, together with Spanish banker Damian Mateu, returned to the attack, reviving Hispano-Suiza Fabrica de Automóviles in Barcelona. By 1906 Birkigt had produced four new engines, four- and six-cylinder mills ranging from 3.8 to 7.4 litres. Despite both commercial and financial support from the king of Spain, Alfonso XIII, the company saw greater business opportunities in the French market.
La Francia
Production facilities would be close to the client base, the company selecting Parisian suburb Lavallois-Perret for their plant in 1911. They then moved a final time in 1914 to Bois-Colombes and adopted the name Hispano-Suiza.
During World War I, the manufacturer focused mainly on building aircraft engines. Birkigt revolutionized the industry, filing a little over 100 patents.
Safety, comfort, speed
In 1919 all agree that with the arrival of the H6 Hispano-Suiza outclassed Rolls-Royce and its famous Silver Ghost.
In the 1920s Hispano-Suiza had become well and truly famous, and some of its technological advancements, such as the Hispano-Suiza power drum brakes, were reputed as the best in the world. Rolls-Royce even went as far as to include the brakes in its models.
A symbol of victory
The stork representing the Alsace region and gracing the top of the radiator of Hispano-Suiza cars appeared in the middle of the 1920s. Painted on the side of Georges Guynemer’s plane, powered by a Hispano-Suiza engine, it became the symbol of the brand.
The prosperous 1930s
The K6 model was introduced even before production of its predecessor, the HS26, ceased, and it was then very similar to the 12-cylinder J12 model. At the time, these cars were the perfect illustration of Birkigt’s genius, satisfying the needs of a market partial to luxury and comfort over brute strength.
The K6 featured a ladder chassis and front and rear semi-elliptical leaf spring suspension. Available in two chassis lengths, 342 and 372 mm, its hydraulic brakes and precise steering system furthered the brand’s superiority.
The K6 was powered by a six-cylinder, 5.2-litre engine delivering an impressive 120 hp, and it was even capable of reaching top speeds of 140 km/h. Built in France, it featured the traditional three-speed manual transmission.
The K6 was first introduced at the Paris Motor Show in 1934. Afterwards, wealthy clients could buy the chassis and have it equipped as they wished, thus ensuring the rarely equalled exclusivity of their model.
The last of the 204 K6s was built in the spring of 1937, sounding the knell of the production of cars in France at the same time. With World War II looming on the horizon, the French government seized the manufacturing plant and ordered the sole production of aviation engines.
Today, Hispano-Suiza only manufactures aircraft engines and has been completely integrated into French defence establishment Safran.
photo:Luc Olivier Chamberland
La Francia
Production facilities would be close to the client base, the company selecting Parisian suburb Lavallois-Perret for their plant in 1911. They then moved a final time in 1914 to Bois-Colombes and adopted the name Hispano-Suiza.
During World War I, the manufacturer focused mainly on building aircraft engines. Birkigt revolutionized the industry, filing a little over 100 patents.
Safety, comfort, speed
In 1919 all agree that with the arrival of the H6 Hispano-Suiza outclassed Rolls-Royce and its famous Silver Ghost.
In the 1920s Hispano-Suiza had become well and truly famous, and some of its technological advancements, such as the Hispano-Suiza power drum brakes, were reputed as the best in the world. Rolls-Royce even went as far as to include the brakes in its models.
 |
A symbol of victory
The stork representing the Alsace region and gracing the top of the radiator of Hispano-Suiza cars appeared in the middle of the 1920s. Painted on the side of Georges Guynemer’s plane, powered by a Hispano-Suiza engine, it became the symbol of the brand.
The prosperous 1930s
The K6 model was introduced even before production of its predecessor, the HS26, ceased, and it was then very similar to the 12-cylinder J12 model. At the time, these cars were the perfect illustration of Birkigt’s genius, satisfying the needs of a market partial to luxury and comfort over brute strength.
The K6 featured a ladder chassis and front and rear semi-elliptical leaf spring suspension. Available in two chassis lengths, 342 and 372 mm, its hydraulic brakes and precise steering system furthered the brand’s superiority.
The K6 was powered by a six-cylinder, 5.2-litre engine delivering an impressive 120 hp, and it was even capable of reaching top speeds of 140 km/h. Built in France, it featured the traditional three-speed manual transmission.
The K6 was first introduced at the Paris Motor Show in 1934. Afterwards, wealthy clients could buy the chassis and have it equipped as they wished, thus ensuring the rarely equalled exclusivity of their model.
The last of the 204 K6s was built in the spring of 1937, sounding the knell of the production of cars in France at the same time. With World War II looming on the horizon, the French government seized the manufacturing plant and ordered the sole production of aviation engines.
Today, Hispano-Suiza only manufactures aircraft engines and has been completely integrated into French defence establishment Safran.
photo:Luc Olivier Chamberland
Article Gallery