Beschreibung:

Mark Birkigt’s masterpiece, the J12, was without equal in the Supercar league when unveiled in 1931, following just a decade or so after the H6 had set Hispano-Suiza on a similar pinnacle. The 9.4 litre V12 engine offered new and un-matched standards in performance from an unsupercharged car and the pushrod-operated overhead valve engine was noticeably silent compared with the earlier six-cylinder overhead camshaft-engined H6. Who would worry about the 8-9mpg fuel consumption when the car was capable of a top speed in excess of 100mph, would accelerate from 0-60mph in a blistering 10 seconds and yet would stop more quickly than any car in its class, thanks to its gearbox-driven mechanical servo braking system. All this in spite of a chassis weight of 1,550kg, the massive frame being well equipped to take the most exotic coachwork and yet so well proportioned that it would carry sporting or formal coachwork with equal grace. The J12 was supplied in chassis form to most of Europe’s major bespoke coachbuilders including Binder, Franay, Fernandez and Darrin, Van Vooren and to many top-line English coachbuilders. This car was originally a saloon with coachwork by Hoopers but is offered with a new aluminium sporting body, not presently fitted. The rolling chassis is complete with engine, bulkhead firewall, bonnet, gearbox, Nivex instruments in the original panel, steering box casing, gear lever, fuel tank, fuel pumps, radiator and sundry other parts. It is sold strictly as viewed. It comes with copies of a period parts list and a technical description. The car is not currently registered on a V5 document but application to Swansea may allow the apparently original registration number, BYH 7, to be reallocated.