Spyker

From Free net encyclopedia

For the modern company, see Spyker Cars

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, the 'ij' was changed in 1903 into 'y'. The were originally based in Hilversum but in 1898 moved to Trompenburg, Amsterdam.

In 1898 Spyker manufactured the Golden Coach, 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. In 1907 an 18hp model successfully competed in the Pekin-Paris race. Hendrik Jan Spyker 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.

Later they also manufactured World War 1 airplanes and aircraft engines. In 1903 the Spyker 60 HP became the world's first ever four-wheel driven car and racer. The 60 HP was also the first ever automobile equipped with a six-cylinder engine and brakes for all four wheels. 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 but sales were disappointing.

In 1922 the company was 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's estimated that 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.

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Car Models

Vehicle	Year
Spyker 3hp	1900-1902	2 cylinder
Spyker 5hp	1900-1900
Spyker 5hp	1900-1900	boxer engine
Spyker 6hp	1902-1902	water cooled engine.
Spyker 10/12	1903-1903	2 cylinder
Spyker 20/24	1903-1904	4 cylinder
Spyker 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.