1915 Hispano-Suiza 1520HP Omnibus

1915 Hispano-Suiza 15/20HP Omnibus

One of the most famous of marques of all time, Hispano-Suiza was founded in Barcelona, Spain in 1904, its name (literally, Spanish-Swiss) recognising both its place of origin and the contribution made by its chief designer, the Swiss engineer Marc Birkigt. The latter had designed the La Cuadra car in Barcelona in 1900 and then the Castro. When Castro went out of business, a new company - Fabrica De Automoviles, La Hispano-Suiza - was formed, headed by wealthy investor Damien Mateu. Two four-cylinder models were shown at the Paris Auto Show in 1906, and in 1908 the range expanded with the addition of two sixes. Spain's young King Alfonso XIII was an early devotee of the marque. One of Hispano's first customers, he purchased a trio of four-cylinder models at the Madrid Show in 1907 and would own some 30-or-so examples during his reign.

An Hispano won France's prestigious Coupe de l'Auto race in 1910 and this racing voiturette would form the basis of the Alfonso XIII model introduced in 1912. Its successful exposure in France led to Hispano-Suiza setting up a factory in Paris in 1911, the better to exploit the potential of the large French market. Indeed, although the marque was of Spanish origin, it was Hispano-Suiza's French-built cars that established it in the front rank of luxury automobile manufacturers following the end of WWI.

As well as producing some of the world's fastest cars, Hispano-Suiza was also concerned with public transport, introducing a number of commercial chassis powered by engines developed for its touring cars, modified for this less glamorous role. Hispano-Suiza also ran a scheme whereby a customer could enter into what was effectively a 'hire purchase' agreement with the company, paying for the vehicle in instalments out of their operating profits. Indeed, many of these new transport companies incorporated the name 'Hispano' into their title.

Descriptions & pictures by bonhams & flickr & Wikimedia