Spyker

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Spyker was a Dutch car manufacturer, started in 1880 by coach builders Jacobus and Hendrik-Jan Spijker, but to be able to market the brand better in foreign countries, in 1903 the 'ij' was changed into 'y'. They were originally based in Hilversum but in 1898 moved to Trompenburg, Amsterdam.

In 1898 Spyker manufactured the "Golden Carriage", still in use by the Dutch Queen today.

It was also in 1898 that they started building automobiles and in 1900 put their first models on display, two cylinder 3hp and 5hp similar to the Benz. Four cylinder models were introduced in 1903, along with the six cylinder Spyker 60 HP, a racer with the world's first ever[citation needed] four-wheel drive and four-wheel brakes.[1]

The 1905 cars featured a round radiator grille which became a feature of many of the pre war cars. In 1913 the company was having financial problems again and in 1915 was taken over by new owners and renamed Nederlandsche Automobiel en Vliegtuigfabriek Trompenburg (Dutch Car and Aircraft company). Under the new owners, the previous complex model range was simplified and a new car, the 13/30 C1, introduced; sales were disappointing. In 1907, an 18hp model successfully competed in the Peking to Paris race.

Hendrik-Jan Spijker died in 1907 when the ferry he was on when returning from England sank and this loss led to the bankruptcy of the original company. A group of investors bought the company and restarted production but Jacobus Spijker was no longer involved.

During World War 1, they manufactured airplanes and aircraft engines.

In 1922 the company went bankrupt again and was acquired by Spyker's distributor in Britain who renamed the company Spyker Automobielfabriek. Production continued and prices dropped but the company continued to decline. Final production was of the C2 two ton truck and the C4 car which lasted until 1926 when funds finally ran out.

It is estimated total Spyker car production was at most 2000 cars.

In 1999, a new company, Spyker Cars was founded, unrelated to the original company but for the brand name.

[edit] Car Models

Vehicle Year Details
Spijker 3hp 1900-1902 2 cylinder
Spijker 5hp 1900-1900
Spijker 5hp 1900-1900 boxer engine
Spijker 6hp 1902-1902 water cooled engine.
Spijker 10/12 1903-1903 2 cylinder
Spyker 20/24 1903-1904 4 cylinder
Spijker 36/50 1903-1903 6 cylinder 5,073 cc
Spyker 60/80 1903-1907 6 cylinder 8,821 cc
Spyker 16/20 1903-1907 4 cylinder
Spyker 30/36 1903-1907
Spyker 14/18 1904-1907 4 cylinder 2544 cc
Spyker 20/28 1904-1907 4 cylinder
Spyker 25/36 1904-1905 4 cylinder 7,964 cc. Fourwheel drive option.
Spyker 32/40 1904-1905 4 cylinder. Fourwheel drive option.
Spyker 15/22 1905-1907 4 cylinder 3456 cc.
Spyker 10/15 1907-1907 4 cylinder.
Spyker 15/22 1907-1907 4 cylinder 2799 cc.
Spyker 20/30 1907-1907 4 cylinder 4562 cc.
Spyker 30/42 1907-1907 4 cylinder 6902 cc.
Spyker 40/80 1907-1907 4 cylinder 10,603 cc.
Spyker 15/22 1907-1910 4 cylinder 2799 cc.
Spyker 60/80 1909-1909 4 cylinder.
Spyker 10/15 1910-1912 4 cylinder. Delivery van.
Spyker 15/25 1910-1912 4 cylinder. Delivery van.
Spyker 12 1910-1914 4 cylinder.
Spyker 16 1910-1912 4 cylinder.
Spyker 18 1910-1912 4 cylinder.
Spyker 25 1910-1912 4 cylinder. 4589 cc.
Spyker 25/30 1911-1912 6 cylinder.
Spyker 20 1912-1916 4 cylinder. 3435 cc.
Spyker 30 1912-1916 4 cylinder. 6082 cc.
Spyker 40 1912-1916 4 cylinder. 7238 cc.
Spyker 14 1913-1916 4 cylinder.
Spyker 12 1914-1916 4 cylinder. 1795 cc.
Spyker 13/30 C1 1916-1921 4 cylinder. 3560 cc.
Spyker 14/34 C1 1920-1921 4 cylinder. 3562 cc.
Spyker C2 1916-1925 4 cylinder. 4607 cc. Two ton truck.
Spyker 30/40 C4 1920-1925 6 cylinder Maybach engine. 5742 cc.

[edit] Trivia

Both Spyker brand automobiles appear on Dutch postage stamps (first day of issue: May 10, 2004).

Image:spykerstamp.jpg

The car driven by Kenneth More in the 1953 film Genevieve, about the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, is a 1904 Spyker.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Georgano, G. N. Cars: Early and Vintage, 1886-1930. (London: Grange-Universal, 1985)