collectionis-Hispano Suiza 30 HP 1919 EKO 1:43
The company Hispano Suiza originated at the end of the 19th century with the captain Emilio de la Cuadra and the swiss engineer Marc C. Birkigt, who were dedicated to manufacturing gasoline vehicles. In 1903 they manufactured their first model, the 10 HP, with 4 speeds and a radiator with a water pump, but shortly after they had to close their doors for economic reasons. In 1904 the company was re-founded under the hand of Damián Mateu and Francisco Seix with the name of Sociedad Anónima La Hispano-Suiza (the Spanish-Swiss Company), and contracted Marc C. Birkigt as the technical director.
In 1905 the commercial agent Francisco Abadal had a “casual encounter” with King Alfonso XIII, (which in reality seems premeditated; he planned to overtake the cars of the royal party on a hill near Valencia with a Hispano-Suiza, leaving them impressed and capturing the interest of the monarch, who was very interested in the automobile world) who in the future would be very tied to the brand (he came to have 8% of the company shares) and would become its best sponsor.
collectionis-Hispano Suiza 30 HP 1919 EKO 1:43
During all the decades that the company existed, it made vehicles with a great level of quality, but interestingly enough, it was the first manufacturer to have great success in making airplane engines in WWI. Marc C. Birkigt designed a water cooled aluminum engine with 150 cv of which were manufactured 50,000 units under license in various parts of the world. Marc C. Birkigt would also be the inventor of the firing system (in the war crafts) through the propeller shaft.
The company continued manufacturing automobiles until its nationalization in 1946 by the INI (Instituto Nacional de Industria (National Institute of Industry)) to constitute ENASA, which the well known brand Pegaso built.
Among the distinguished clients of Hispano-Suiza, along with King Alfonso XIII, are the kings of Sweden, Egypt, Afghanistan, Persia, etc, and personal celebrities of the time such as the painter Pablo Picasso and the scientist Albert Einstein.
Our EKO miniature (made of plastic and very light!) from the 70’s has the steering wheel on the right side, reflecting how automobiles were in the 20’s (although subsequently in Spain all of the vehicles were manufactured with the steering wheel on the left side). An interesting note is that the small suitcase can be opened which constitutes the incipient trunk located on the lower back side.
collectionis-Hispano Suiza 30 HP 1919 EKO 1:43
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