1918 Hispano Suiza Type 32

Sold for $335,500 at 2012 RM Auctions at Amelia Island, Fla.
In its day, Hispano-Suiza couldn't have been any more of an international automobile manufacturer. Its name meaning 'Spanish-Swiss', the company would be started before the turn of the 20th century by a Spanish artillery captain that had an electric automobile production based in Barcelona. But then, the Spaniard would be in Paris where he met a Swiss engineer by the name of Marc Birkigt. Soon, this union of Spanish and Swiss, which took place in France, would lead to Hispano-Suiza and a number of hand-made automobiles that would make the company famous.

The Swiss engineer, Marc Birkigt, was certainly gifted. And as a demonstration of his abilities as an engineer, Birkigt would help Hispano-Suiza to become perhaps best known for its engines that were used throughout World War I and into World War II.

Birkigt would be the first to use the idea of 'cast block' engines instead of the more normal practice of bolting cylinders directly to the crankcase. In the case of a cast block engine, not having to bolt on the cylinders meant the engine would be much stiffer and it would be lighter, and easier to work on. Another innovative feature Birkigt would develop would be the hollow propeller shaft. This allowed a gun to be fired right out of the spinner for the propeller which meant the Hispano-Suiza engines didn't have to deal with the issues of the synchronizer gear.

But while the company would become famous for its aircraft engines, Birkigt's genius in automotive design and construction would lead the company to be nearly as famous for its luxury and racing automobiles. In fact, Hispano-Suiza would attract the attention of a very important person in the Spanish political structure, a keen aficionado of the automobile.

Initially, the Spanish-Swiss Car Factory would go bankrupt in 1903. However, in 1904, La Hispano-Suiza Fabrica de Automoviles would be born. And the following year, using Birkigt's genius, the company introduced four new engines. They would range in size from 2.6-liter and 7.4-liter 4-cylinder engines all the way up to a couple of 6-cylinder engines. This would lead to King Alfonso of Spain to purchase a number of Hispano-Suiza automobiles.

The power and the speed of Hispano-Suiza's engines and chassis would cause the company to be greatly noticed for war production. And at the start of the First World War, the company, at least its plant in France, would be forced to cease production of its automobiles and would be called upon to generate copy after copy of its powerful aircraft engine. Meanwhile, in Spain, which was neutral during the First World War, the company's Barcelona plant continued to make automobiles.

But the company had a problem. Considering there was a war enraging throughout most of Europe, most of the company's customers were not interested in hand-made luxury automobiles. They were interested in airplane engines and other mechanized wartime vehicles. Therefore, the company would have to look to a new audience. And it would also have to carefully scale back the production given the fewer numbers of interested entities.

The company would find its new audience. Hispano-Suiza would continue to make automobiles and would then ship them for sale in the Latin and South American nations. With the distance and other considerations, Hispano-Suiza would also be careful not to produce too many different types of cars. Therefore, throughout 1915 and all the way up into the middle of the 1920s, just one or two car models would be made by Hispano-Suiza.

The larger of the two predominant models would be known as the Type 32. And at Amelia Island in 2012, RM Auctions would have a Hispano-Suiza Type 32 Collapsible Brougham for sale.

While most of Europe, and the rest of the world, was at war this particular chassis, 5461, is believed to have been produced at Hispano-Suiza's Barcelona plant in 1918. There is quite a lot of this car's history that is a matter of mystery given that records of cars built after chassis 1246 would be lost. But what is known is that engine 5461 was one of thirteen tested in October of 1918. The hand-built coachwork would be finished in Barcelona as well before the car would be shipped to Mexico. It is not known whether it was shipped brand new or after some time. But it is known that it survived in Mexico for a number of years.

It wouldn't be until the 1990s that the car would make an appearance at Pebble Beach. The appearance at Pebble Beach would come after the car had undergone thorough restoration at the hands of Mr. Jan Voboril. Immediately after winning Second in Class, the car would be promptly sent back into storage.

A truly stately automobile, the 30 hp, 4.7-liter 4-cylinder Type 32 would come with semi-elliptic leaf spring front and rear suspension and rear mechanical drum brakes. Altogether, the car is a truly mesmerizing package that beautifully blends race-inspired performance with stately elegance.
One of only a handful of early Hispano-Suiza examples, this particular chassis would be estimated to garner between $350,000 and $400,000. In fact, it would fall just short of the estimate earning a sale price of $335,500.

Sources:
'Lot No. 164: 1918 Hispano-Suiza Type 32 Collapsible Brougham by Baltasar Fioly-CIA', (http://www.rmauctions.com/CarDetails.cfm?SaleCode=AM12&CarID=r230&Currency=USD). RM Auctions. http://www.rmauctions.com/CarDetails.cfm?SaleCode=AM12&CarID=r230&Currency=USD. Retrieved 19 March 2012.

Wikipedia contributors, 'Hispano-Suiza', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 24 February 2012, 22:45 UTC, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hispano-Suiza&oldid=478682474 accessed 19 March 2012

By Jeremy McMullen