Abadal
Encyclopedia
The Abadal was a Spanish
car
manufactured between 1912 and 1923, named after Francisco Abadal. Considered a fast luxury car, it was closely patterned on the Hispano Carrocera
and offered in two models. One had a 3104cc four-cylinder
engine
while the other had a 4521 cc six-cylinder engine.
Soon after the inception of the Abadal line, the Belgian
company Impéria
began building Abadals under license as Impéria-Abadals. In 1916 Abadal acquired the Buick
agency, and Barcelona-built Abadals after that year had Buick power units and featured custom coachwork. These cars were called "Abadal-Buicks". M. A. Van Roggen (formerly of Springuel
) took over the Belgian operation soon after, and built around 170 more Impéria-Abadals. Among the models produced were a 2992cc 16-valve four-cylinder OHC
sports model and three prototype 5630 cc straight-eights
. The company ceased automobile production in 1923.
Francisco Abadal (nicknamed Paco) was a Hispano-Suiza
salesman and racing driver in Barcelona
. He began this enterprise in 1912, and upon its cessation became an agent of General Motors in Spain. General Motors' plans in 1930 related to a prototype named the Abadal Continental never materialised.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
car
Čar
Čar is a village in the municipality of Bujanovac, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the town has a population of 296 people.-References:...
manufactured between 1912 and 1923, named after Francisco Abadal. Considered a fast luxury car, it was closely patterned on the Hispano Carrocera
Hispano Carrocera
Tata Hispano Motors Carrocera , based in Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain, is one of the largest manufacturers of bus and coach cabins in Europe. It is a fully owned subsidiary of India's Tata Motors. Tata Motors acquired control of the company in 2005, after purchasing a 21% stake in the company...
and offered in two models. One had a 3104cc four-cylinder
Cylinder (engine)
A cylinder is the central working part of a reciprocating engine or pump, the space in which a piston travels. Multiple cylinders are commonly arranged side by side in a bank, or engine block, which is typically cast from aluminum or cast iron before receiving precision machine work...
engine
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
while the other had a 4521 cc six-cylinder engine.
Soon after the inception of the Abadal line, the Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
company Impéria
Imperia (car)
Imperia Automobiles was a Belgian automotive factory. The brand name was revived in 2009 to market a hybrid sports car based on research from the company Green Propulsion.- Historical Impéria :...
began building Abadals under license as Impéria-Abadals. In 1916 Abadal acquired the Buick
Buick
Buick is a premium brand of General Motors . Buick models are sold in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Taiwan, and Israel, with China being its largest market. Buick holds the distinction as the oldest active American make...
agency, and Barcelona-built Abadals after that year had Buick power units and featured custom coachwork. These cars were called "Abadal-Buicks". M. A. Van Roggen (formerly of Springuel
Springuel
The Springuel was a Belgian automobile manufactured from 1907 until 1912. The company called Societe Anonyme Automobiles des Springuel was founded by Jules Springuel-Wilmotte in Huy. It was a 24 hp pair-cast four, built in small numbers. The company merged with Impéria in 1912. The 1911 12HP won...
) took over the Belgian operation soon after, and built around 170 more Impéria-Abadals. Among the models produced were a 2992cc 16-valve four-cylinder OHC
Overhead camshaft
Overhead cam valvetrain configurations place the engine camshaft within the cylinder heads, above the combustion chambers, and drive the valves or lifters in a more direct manner compared to overhead valves and pushrods...
sports model and three prototype 5630 cc straight-eights
Straight-8
The straight-eight engine or inline-eight engine is an eight-cylinder internal combustion engine with all eight cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
. The company ceased automobile production in 1923.
Francisco Abadal (nicknamed Paco) was a Hispano-Suiza
Hispano-Suiza
Hispano-Suiza was a Spanish automotive and engineering firm, best known for its luxury cars and aviation engines in the pre-World War II period of the twentieth century. In 1923, its French subsidiary became a semi-autonomous partnership with the parent company and is now part of the French SAFRAN...
salesman and racing driver in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
. He began this enterprise in 1912, and upon its cessation became an agent of General Motors in Spain. General Motors' plans in 1930 related to a prototype named the Abadal Continental never materialised.