Hispano-Suiza J12

Hispano-Suiza J12
1933 Hispano-Suiza J12 Sport Torpedo
Overview
Manufacturer	Hispano-Suiza
Also called	T12[1] Type 68 [2]
Production	1931–1938
Assembly	France: Bois-Colombes[3] (chassis only)[4]
Designer	Marc Birkigt (chassis only)[4]
Body and chassis
Class	Luxury car
Body style	by arrangement with the customer's coachbuilder
Layout	FMR
Powertrain
Engine	9,424 cc (575.1 cu in) OHV V-12 (11,310 cc (690.2 cu in) from 1935 on)[5]
Transmission	3-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	135 in (3,430 mm)[1][6][7][8] 146 in (3,710 mm)[6][7][9] 150 in (3,810 mm)[7][9] 158 in (4,010 mm)[1][6][7][10]
Chronology
Predecessor	Hispano-Suiza H6[6]

The Hispano-Suiza J12 is a luxury automobile that was made by Hispano-Suiza from 1931 to 1938.^[5] It was the largest and most expensive car ever built by Hispano-Suiza.^[2][3] It replaced the Hispano-Suiza H6.^[6]

The J12 was powered by a 60° V12 engine with pushrod-operated overhead valves and a seven-bearing crankshaft.^[1] The engine initially displaced 9.4 L (574 cu in)^[1][6] with bore and stroke both being 100 mm (3.9 in) and with a compression ratio of 5.0:1,^[1] delivered 220 hp at 3000 rpm.^[1][6] Two cars were fitted with long-stroke engines displacing 11.3 L (690 cu in) and delivering 250 hp, and several J12s were later upgraded to the larger engine. Each engine block was machined from a single 700 lb (318 kg) billet.^[6]

Hispano-Suiza suspended automobile production in 1938 to concentrate on the manufacture of aircraft engines.^[11][12]

Notes

1. Rogliatti 1973, p. 77.
2. Kimes 1990, p. 646.
3. Nicholson 1982, p. 307.
4. Kimes 1990, p. 642.
5. Robson 1990, p. 72.
6. Scott 1991, p. 52.
7. Robson 2001, pp. 248–249.
8. Given as 134 ¹⁄₂ in (3,420 mm) in Kimes 1990, p. 648
9. Kimes 1990, p. 648.
10. Given as 157 ³⁄₄ in (4,010 mm) in Kimes 1990, p. 648
11. Robson 1990, p. 73.
12. Kimes 1990, p. 651.

References

• Kimes, Beverly Rae, ed. (1990). "Hispano-Suiza". The Classic Car. Des Plaines, IL US: Classic Car Club of America. pp. 641–651. ISBN 0-9627868-0-2. LCCN 90084421.
• Nicholson, T. R. (1982) [First edition 1968]. "Hispano-Suiza (ii) (F) 1911–1938". In Georgano, G. N. The New Encyclopedia of Motorcars 1885 to the Present (Third ed.). New York, NY US: E. P. Dutton. p. 307. ISBN 0525932542. LCCN 81-71857.
• Robson, Graham (2001). "Hispano-Suiza V12". The Illustrated Directory of Classic Cars. St. Paul, MN USA: MBI Publishing. pp. 248–249. ISBN 0-7603-1049-1.
• Robson, Graham (1990). "Hispano-Suiza V12". The Worlds Most Powerful Cars. 6 Blundell Street, London N7 9BH: Quintet Publishing. pp. 72–73. ISBN 1-85076-254-6.
• Rogliatti, Gianni (1973). Posthumus, Cyril, ed. Period Cars. Feltham, Middlesex, UK: Hamlyn. pp. 76–77. ISBN 0-600-33401-5.
• Scott, Michael G. H. (29 July 1991). "Escape Road: 1931-38 Hispano-Suiza Type 68 J12". AutoWeek (Detroit MI: Crain Communications) 41 (30): 52. ISSN 0192-9674.