A slump in demand for the products of its munitions factory at St Denis (Paris) prompted the company founded in 1875 by American Benjamin Hotchkiss (1826-85) to diversify into motor manufacture in the early 1900s. Right from the start the famous 'Hotchkiss drive', by live axle and open propeller shaft, was a feature of the French factory's automobiles, the first of which was a brace of side-valve 'T-head' fours with engines of 4.6 and 7.4 litres capacity. The range expanded to encompass six-cylinder models, and although large upmarket types continued to be catalogued, the trend towards smaller-engined cars had become firmly established by the start of WWI. Hotchkiss also competed in Grands Prix up until 1906 with thundering chain-drive monsters using engines up to 19 litres but with the trend towards smaller capacity production cars, the French company gradually modernised with monobloc engines moving across the range. The Model AD built in the years leading up to the First World War found here was introduced by 1910 and remained in production until hostilities commenced. Known as the 20/30hp in the United Kingdom, it was the largest Hotchkiss four cylinder model in the range and this particular car appears to date from a batch built in 1914 according to records available. Fitted with smart two seater bodywork, this 20/30 Hotchkiss has clearly been the subject of considerable restoration work at some stage. With folding occasional rear seats and a luggage locker, the Hotchkiss is both a versatile and practical French veteran and once up and running, would be a rare sight on Australian roads. Having been in storage for a number of years, the car does require recommissioning and is to be sold strictly as viewed.
A slump in demand for the products of its munitions factory at St Denis (Paris) prompted the company founded in 1875 by American Benjamin Hotchkiss (1826-85) to diversify into motor manufacture in the early 1900s. Right from the start the famous 'Hotchkiss drive', by live axle and open propeller shaft, was a feature of the French factory's automobiles, the first of which was a brace of side-valve 'T-head' fours with engines of 4.6 and 7.4 litres capacity. The range expanded to encompass six-cylinder models, and although large upmarket types continued to be catalogued, the trend towards smaller-engined cars had become firmly established by the start of WWI. Hotchkiss also competed in Grands Prix up until 1906 with thundering chain-drive monsters using engines up to 19 litres but with the trend towards smaller capacity production cars, the French company gradually modernised with monobloc engines moving across the range. The Model AD built in the years leading up to the First World War found here was introduced by 1910 and remained in production until hostilities commenced. Known as the 20/30hp in the United Kingdom, it was the largest Hotchkiss four cylinder model in the range and this particular car appears to date from a batch built in 1914 according to records available. Fitted with smart two seater bodywork, this 20/30 Hotchkiss has clearly been the subject of considerable restoration work at some stage. With folding occasional rear seats and a luggage locker, the Hotchkiss is both a versatile and practical French veteran and once up and running, would be a rare sight on Australian roads. Having been in storage for a number of years, the car does require recommissioning and is to be sold strictly as viewed.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
