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1937 Hispano Suiza J12

The Hispano-Suiza marque had Swiss and Spanish origins and a parallel manufacturing location in France. The first Hispano-Suiza of 1904 was based on the Barcelona-built Castro, designed by Swiss engineer Marc Birkigt. Born in Switzerland in 1878, Birkigt left for Spain in 1899 after excepting a position as an engineer with a firm in Barcelona where he helped design Spain's first gasoline automobile, the La Cuadra. During the first year of Hispano-Suiza production, 27 examples were produced. The company quickly gained a reputation for craftsmanship and mechanical prowess, even Spain's King Alfonso XIII would eventually own over thirty examples.

Hispano-Suiza opened a second factory near Paris in 1911 called Hispano France, and Hispano-Suiza operations were moved to larger factories at Bois-Colombes in 1914. During World War I, Hispano-Suiza designed and built aero engines which would become the most commonly used aircraft engines in the British and French air forces.

When peacetime resumed, Hispano-Suiza returned to automobile manufacturing and soon introduced the Hispano-Suiza H6. It was powered by an inline six-cylinder overhead-camshaft engine based on the V8 aluminum aero engines. The Hispano-Suiza Company would build a variety of engines in various configurations over the years, including T-head fours, overhead-cam engines, and a water-cooled V-8. As the multi-cylinder wars of the early 1930s escalated, Marc Birkigt was determined to keep Hispano-Suiza at the forefront of the luxury car segment. In 1929, he began work on what would become the J-12. Beginning with a new design, Birkigt created a 'square' V-12 engine with a bore and stroke of 100 mm, influenced by his early engineering experience. It used convex pistons, a compression ratio of 5.0:1, a seven-bearing crankshaft, a displacement size of nearly 9.5-liters, rubber engine mounts, a pushrod-operated overhead valvetrain, and developed approximately 220 horsepower. It had dual Scintilla magnetos, vitreous enameled manifolds, and aluminum castings. The engine was backed by a three-speed manual transmission. The suspension was comprised of a solid front axle and a live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs. Four-wheel servo-assisted mechanical drum brakes provided the stopping power.

The Hispano-Suiza J12 (also known as the Type 68 or T12) was produced from 1931 to 1938. The mechanical sophistication was equaled by its price tag, guaranteeing its exclusivity, with approximately 120 examples - all built to order- built during its production lifespan. Four wheelbase sizes were available including a 135-, 146-, 150-, and 158-inch platform, and was the largest and most expensive car ever constructed by the marque. Hispano-Suiza constructed the chassis while buyers had to arrange coachwork from outside builders.

In its day, there were few that could compare to Marc Birkigt's piéce de résistance. Among the list of notable and original owners include Lord Rothschild, Marcel Boussac, and André Dubonnet. Collectors who have owned the J12 include Briggs Cunningham, Alec Ulmann, William Burden, Charles Chayne, and C.W.P. Hampton.

by Dan Vaughan

Berline by Letourner et Marchand

Marc Birkigt, the man who created Hispano-Suiza, was born in Switzerland in 1878 and attended the Ecole de Mecanique where he graduated with high honors in engineering and physics. Birkigt left Switzerland in 1899 when he accepted a position as an engineer in a Spanish firm in Barcelona, designing Spain's first gasoline automobile, the La Cuadra, and later, the Castro. Backed by Spanish financing, Birkigt established the Hispano-Suiza firm in June 1904, and by the end of the year, 27 Hispano-Suizas were produced. Spain's 19-year-old King Alfonso XIII, an ardent motorist and a driver of considerable ability, became a dedicated Hispano-Suiza enthusiast and ended up owning more than 30 of them.

A second factory was opened near Paris in 1911 to manufacture Hispano-Suizas and production was parallel in both plants. This luxurious J12 Hispano-Suiza model was built at the French factory. The model J12, announced in the Fall of 1931, was magnificently built and magnificently priced. Besides the Bugatti Royale, it was the most expensive French car built. The 12-cylinder J12 Hispano-Suiza was very fast and, in terms of mechanical excellence, could only be matched by such marvels as the 16-cylinder Cadillacs. Hispano-Suiza's V12 models were produced from 1931 until the French firm ceased operations in 1938. Car production in Barcelona continued until 1944 when Hispano-Suiza decided to concentrate on aircraft engines and armaments.

The French automaker Hispano-Suiza was among the elite in luxury car production and the leaders of style, innovation, and design. The reputation was solidified in history with the legendary H6 series including the H6B and H6C. Their destiny in history as one of the greatest producers of automobiles during the 1930s was secured with the introduction of the J-12 Type 68 in 1931. That was the same year that Hispano-Suiza united Swiss design, French production facilities, and the Spanish capital.

The J12 was created for the discriminating buyer and priced well above what most could afford. The J12 was offered only as a rolling chassis, with a choice of four wheelbase sizes. The large 'square' V12 engine (a long-stroke engine was optional) was an engine masterpiece, offering superb performance for its weight. The coachwork was left to the customer's discretion and most examples carried very luxurious and elegant accommodations.

The engine used in the H6C had been modified throughout the years, but by now, a replacement was needed. The displacement had been increased to the point where more cylinders were required. The company was familiar with V12 engines, as they had designed a V12 unit for use in an aircraft as early as 1918. The engine was used during the First World War but then put aside when peacetime resumed. From 1919 through 1923, the company exported a few V8 aircraft engines. They produced a 60-degree V12 type 12jb beginning in 1924. It was rated at around 400 horsepower. It was enlarged in 1926, becoming the 12Hb, and offering over 500 horsepower. It was improved even further in 1928, becoming the 12Nb and outputting 720 horsepower.

Development began on a V12 automobile engine near the close of the 1920s with the production version being introduced at the 1931 Paris Motorshow. The 575 cubic-inch V12 overhead valve engine offered 220 horsepower which was adequate to carry the vehicles which often weighed between 5000 - 6500 pounds. Production lasted from 1931 through 1938 with around 120 examples produced.

Wheelbase sizes included 135, 146, 150, and 158 inches.

by Dan Vaughan