World's First Sports Car

[The Boston Dangler]

VINTAGE: 1912 Hispano Suiza Sports Car

One of the early vintage highlights of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August was this Hispano Suiza Alfonso XIII, built in 1912. Named after the Spanish King and based on the 1910 Coupe de l'Auto winning racer, the small Hispano is generally considered to be the world's first sports car.

The new Hispano Suiza's suspension followed convention with semi-elliptic leaf springs all around. Cable-operated drum brakes were fitted to the rear wheels only.

Considered one of the first-ever sports cars, the Alfonso XIII was available with a basic roadster body that featured wooden fenders on the earliest examples. Some were also supplied to specialist coachbuilders to be clothed with more lavish bodies. In 1913, various revisions were carried that included the introduction of a four-speed gearbox, a longer wheelbase and rear suspension with triple quarter-elliptic leaf springs on each corner. Because of the onset of the Great War, production ceased in 1914.

 

[ballmode]

thumbs up

what was that car in Indiana Jones where people were saying the 0-60 time was like 12 seconds or something?

 

[manimal]

I would love to drive something like that wearing period gear on a nice saturday afternoon stopping for lunch on the countryside. By period gear I do not meant tampons.

 

[Throckmorton]

What makes it a sportscar?

 

[The Boston Dangler]

What makes it a sportscar?

it was intended to be a small, fast car (at the time) derived from competition machines.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

I would love to drive something like that wearing period gear on a nice saturday afternoon stopping for lunch on the countryside. By period gear I do not meant tampons.

http://www.goodwood.co.uk/revival/what-is-revival/what-is-revival.aspx

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

thumbs up

what was that car in Indiana Jones where people were saying the 0-60 time was like 12 seconds or something?

im guessing that you mean the car from The Lost Arc which the germans traded to the Sultan? I think it was a 1937 Mercedes-Benz 300-Series

What makes it a sportscar?

i think weve discussed this here before

I would love to drive something like that wearing period gear on a nice saturday afternoon stopping for lunch on the countryside. By period gear I do not meant tampons.

would almost be same as rockin' a late '80s/early 90's sports car while blasting Winger or Scorpions!
yeaaaaa

 

[ThatsABigOne]

I think in Indiana Jones that car was Rolls Royce or something like that...

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

I think in Indiana Jones that car was Rolls Royce or something like that...

those are british cars though...?

Damnit, now I gotta go watch that movie

 

[alkalinetaupehat]

would almost be same as rockin' a late '80s/early 90's sports car while blasting Winger or Scorpions!
yeaaaaa

Heyyyyyy! -_______-

 

[ElFenix]

By period gear I do not meant tampons.

i'm glad you clarified that

 

[ballmode]

Sultan: "Rolls-Royce Phantom Two. 4.3 litre, 30 horsepower, six cylinder engine, with Stromberg Downdraft carburetor. Can go from zero to 100 kilometers an hour in 12.5 seconds. And I even like the color."
Donovan: "The keys are in the ignition, Your Highness."

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090514165438/indianajones/images/b/b6/Rolls.jpg

 

[ThatsABigOne]

those are british cars though...?

Damnit, now I gotta go watch that movie

Same... :| :awe:

 

[IcePickFreak]

I'd love to drive one of those old sports cars, I bet it's quite a different experience from driving anything else.

 

[Squisher]

My favorite, 1914 Stutz Bearcat

 

[The Boston Dangler]

I'd love to drive one of those old sports cars, I bet it's quite a different experience from driving anything else.

i've seen a few in the flesh. the controls are insane and they seem to be designed as dangerous as possible - like a whirring chain directly next to your leg 😱