Spanish pre 1940 cars.

[Joris]

Anyone of you knowledgeable about Spanish vintage cars? I was in Barcelona and saw amongst others an Elizalde. See my homepage<A HREF="http://www.prewarcar.com" TARGET=_blank>PreWarCar.com</A>. Thanks Joris

[Guest BruceW]

Joris, <P>On the subject of Spanish cars, there is an lengthy but interesting thesis paper titled:<P>"THE SPANISH MOTOR INDUSTRY IN THE FIRST THIRD OF THE 20TH CENTURY: A LOST OPPORTUNITY <P>The paper ilocated at the following URL:<BR> <A HREF="http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:g-QdJ1O1AJkC:www.econ.upf.es/deehome/what/wpapers/postscripts/470.pdf+Elizalde+automobile&hl=en" TARGET=_blank>http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:g-QdJ1O1AJkC:www.econ.upf.es/deehome/what/wpapers/postscripts/470.pdf+Elizalde+automobile&hl=en</A> <P>The following is the abstract:<P>"The Spanish automobile industry had a late start. Although the country proved capable of short production runs of high-quality vehicles during the first third of the century it never managed to build up its own industry, unlike Great Britain, France, or Italy. What then, were the critical shortcomings that prevented the establishment of large Spanish motor manufacturers? Put another way, why did all of the companies set up during the first half-century fail to survive? This paper attempts to shed some light on these questions, employing a wide-ranging analysis of both internal and external factors affecting the industry. A feeble internal market, lack of resources and production factors are usually adduced as reasons, as are Spain's general economic backwardness and the role played by the public authorities. However, this paper mainly focuses on the internal factors concerning company strategy and organisation. A comparison with the Italian case helps put the traditional arguments in proper perspective and highlights those covering business strategies. Finally, we argue that a broad range of factors needs to be analysed to fully understand why Spain failed to establish a motor industry."<P>The paper is available to be viewed as both .pdf and html files

[Joris]

Thank you, Sir!

[Guest BruceW]

Joris,<P>Here is some brief bit of information that I found on Elizalde automobiles at the following URL:<BR> <A HREF="http://www.unicover.com/EA6ABVB2.HTM" TARGET=_blank>http://www.unicover.com/EA6ABVB2.HTM</A> <P>"Arturo Elizalde opened a garage for making automobile components in Barcelona, Spain in 1909. But by 1914, he had ventured into the automobile manufacturing industry. One of the earliest Elizalde models was purchased by King Alfonso XIII of Spain, a noted car enthusiast. The Type 26 Elizalde was a very successful model, particularly in racing competition. It had four forward speeds, cantilever springs on both front and rear wheel brakes ... a noted improvement over many cars of that day. In the early 1920s, hoping to compete in the lucrative foreign market, Elizalde began concentrating on producing only massive luxury cars that had become popular, particularly in France. Indeed, massive is a fitting word, for at the Paris Salon automobile show in 1921, Elizalde exhibited a huge Type 48 which featured a monstrous straight eight cylinder engine. The wheelbase of the Type 48 was a formidable 169 inches making it, without a doubt, the longest car in the show. However, there were few orders for such a large car, so Elizalde diversified and built smaller cars such as the 1922 Tipo 20C sports model depicted in the artwork. This two seat sports car was built with the same attention to detail as the large Elizalde luxury cars and was also one of the most successful Elizalde light cars."<P>Hope it helps.

[Guest]

Don't leave out the Abadal, another pre-ww1 car made to very high standards and lovely too,or the David, a belt driven cyclecar of the same era.

[Guest BruceW]

Here is some brief bit of information on Abadal automobiles at the following URL:<BR> <A HREF="http://www.unicover.com/EB0KBVDI.HTM" TARGET=_blank>http://www.unicover.com/EB0KBVDI.HTM</A> <P>Francisco "Paco" Abadal was an experienced racing driver who was also a successful salesman for the early Hispano Suiza automobiles. In fact, he was so successful it is thought that it was he who introduced the Hispano Suiza line of cars to Spanish King Alfonso XIII, who later owned thirty models of the car. Not content to be an agent for Hispano Suiza, Abadal took his knowledge of automobiles and started to market cars under his own name in 1912. The first Abadal models closely resembled the sport models of Hispano Suiza and were built in Belgium. Abadal caused a minor sensation at the Paris Salon auto show in 1913 with a torpedo shaped car of riveted wood and a doorless "boat" model which featured a polished brass bonnet. The Abadal cars were extremely well built, for a forty-five horsepower, six-cylinder model completed a twenty thousand kilometer trial in Spain without requiring any replacement parts ... quite an accomplishment for such an early model car. With the outbreak of World War I, production of Abadal cars in Belgium was stopped. However, light cars which featured engines of twelve and fifteen horsepower continued to be manufactured in Spain. Abadal concentrated on providing special bodywork with his cars as well and by 1916 he had begun to produce, with the sanction of Buick, Abadal-Buick cars which featured customized bodywork and specially tuned and modified Buick engines.<P>The URL <BR> <A HREF="http://grupo7.com/microcoches/david.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://grupo7.com/microcoches/david.htm</A> <P>has the following text, plus photographs and specifications on the David:<P>"The History of David goes back to year 1913 and goes bound to "cyclecars" and those<BR>devices without motor called "downs cars". Despite we will be centered in the production of microcars leaving for better occasion the first part of the history that lasted approximately until year 1922. <P>When finishing the civil war and due to the fuel shortage had in the Spain of the Forties<BR>Jose Mª More' Commas made one short series of electrical vehicles with chassis Citroën(about 10 approximately) and body type "aiga" that as it said the publicity of the time "is the worthy vehicle of the nuptial ceremony", which demonstrates that the horteras weddings are not a present invention. Later or in the Fifties it designed a microcar of three wheels, a species of moto carrozada or as he said "is not a car with a wheel the less, but one moto with one rolls the more". This cochecillo made in version tourism and trilight truck of five wheels! with a global production of about 60 units between 1951 and 1957.<p>[ 03-06-2002: Message edited by: BruceW ]

[Joris]

Hi Bruce,<BR>At the moment I have not the time to folow the link. But the guy who wrote that down, stole oen word after the other typed it directly from Georgano. But of course it maybe was doen with permission. Anyway we are getting into soemthing. I'll go into Stellite's remarks as weel. Thank you both,<P>Joris

[Joris]

Fotr those interested in the subject I posted a new feature on the make Automoviles Espana. My 1968 Georgano claims there is only one survivor. Or did soem 'new'ones coem up lately. I mean since 1968. Cheers Joris<A HREF="http://www.prewarcar.com" TARGET=_blank>www.PreWarCar.com</A>

[8E45E]

On ‎2002‎-‎03‎-‎10 at 8:50 AM, Joris said:

Fotr those interested in the subject I posted a new feature on the make Automoviles Espana. My 1968 Georgano claims there is only one survivor. Or did soem 'new'ones coem up lately. I mean since 1968. Cheers Joris<A HREF="http://www.prewarcar.com" TARGET=_blank>www.PreWarCar.com</A>

See this month's Automobile magazine, page 50.  (This is the English classic car publication; not the common U.S. magazine which mainly focuses on new cars.)

 

Craig

[Dave Mellor NJ]

I remember the "Seat"(pronounced See-at) which was a Fiat built under license. While in the Navy we used to rent them in Palma De Majorca.