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, in 1903 the 'ij' was changed into 'y'. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Year 1903 ( MCMIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar or a Common year starting They were originally based in Hilversum but in 1898 moved to Trompenburg, Amsterdam. is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Arboretum Trompenburg is a Botanical garden in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, which hosts a large collection of woody as well as herbaceous plants Amsterdam (pronounced) is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland in the west

In 1898 Spyker manufactured the "Golden Carriage", still in use by the Dutch Queen today. The Gouden Koets (English Golden Carriage) is a Carriage owned and used by the Dutch royal family.

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, along with the six cylinder Spyker 60 HP, a racer with the world's first ever four-wheel drive and four-wheel brakes. Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4x4 ("four by four" is a four-wheeled Vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four Wheels to A brake is a device for slowing or stopping the motion of a Machine or Vehicle, or alternatively a device to restrain it from starting to move again ^[1]

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; sales were disappointing. In 1907, an 18hp model successfully competed in the Peking to Paris race. The Peking to Paris motor race was a race held in 1907 for Automobiles between Peking (now Beijing China and Paris, France,

Hendrik-Jan Spijker 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. Bankruptcy is a legally declared inability or impairment of ability of an individual or organization to pay their Creditors Creditors may file a bankruptcy petition against A group of investors bought the company and restarted production but Jacobus Spijker was no longer involved.

During World War 1, they manufactured airplanes and aircraft engines. An aircraft engine is a Propulsion system for an Aircraft. Aircraft engines are almost always a type of lightweight Internal combustion engine.

In 1922 the company went 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 is estimated 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. Spyker Cars NV ( Euronext SPYKR is a Dutch hand-built Automobile manufacturer, not related to or controlled by the previous Spyker company

Car Models

Trivia

Both Spyker brand automobiles appear on Dutch postage stamps (first day of issue: May 10, 2004). The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands A postage stamp is an adhesive paper evidence of pre-paying a fee for postal services The first day of issue is the day on which a Postage stamp, Postal card or Stamped envelope is put on sale within the country or territory of the Events 1291 - Scottish Nobles recognize the authority of Edward I of England. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again "

The car driven by Kenneth More in the 1953 film Genevieve, about the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, is a 1904 Spyker. Kenneth Gilbert More CBE ( 20 September 1914 – 12 July 1982) was an English Actor. Genevieve is a 1953 British film directed by Henry Cornelius and starring John Gregson, Dinah Sheridan, Kenneth More The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run is the longest-running motoring event in the world

References

1. ^ Georgano, G. N. Cars: Early and Vintage, 1886-1930. (London: Grange-Universal, 1985)