1913 Hispano-Suiza Alfonso XIII
1913 Hispano-Suiza Alfonso XIII | Image Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

1913 Hispano-Suiza Alfonso XIII

One of the most prestigious names of Edwardian motoring, Hispano-Suiza established itself at the pinnacle of automotive engineering with a reputation that was arguably only matched by Rolls-Royce. This reputation was hard-won by the talents of Swiss engineer Marc Birkigt whose successful development of Hispano-Suiza race cars led to the Type 15, later becoming known as Alfonso XIII after the King of Spain became enamored with the model. Fitted with a 3.6-litre, four-cylinder 15T engine producing 64 bhp at 2,300 rpm, the Alfonso XIII was guaranteed to achieve 120 km/h, a scarcely believable figure at the time, with an example achieving a lap at Brooklands at 81.51 mph .

Story by RM Sotheby’s

1913 Hispano-Suiza Alfonso XIII
1913 Hispano-Suiza Alfonso XIII | Image Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
1913 Hispano-Suiza Alfonso XIII
1913 Hispano-Suiza Alfonso XIII | Image Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
1913 Hispano-Suiza Alfonso XIII
1913 Hispano-Suiza Alfonso XIII | Image Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
1913 Hispano-Suiza Alfonso XIII
1913 Hispano-Suiza Alfonso XIII | Image Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s