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 The
next generation of Spyker cars was introduced in 1910, although an exotic 60/80
HP model preceded this range in 1909, but was only produced for one year. The
model diversity expanded rapidly: there were a 10/15 HP and a 15/22 HP delivery
van chassis (with payloads up to 1500 kg), a big Saurer-Spyker truck, the small
12 hp model, the midrange 16 hp model and the more luxurious 18 and 25 hp
models.
With the new luxury car models Spyker introduced a new type of engine: a
mono-bloc 4-cylinder with remarkable transverse camshafts, designed by engineer
Laviolette. The 12 hp had one camshaft placed between the two cylinder pairs;
the bigger engines had two, each servicing two cylinders. Only the 4589 cc 25 hp
model still had the old fashioned bi-bloc engine construction.
Another novelty for Spyker was the integrated engine-gearbox combination on the
16, 18 and 25 hp models..
 In
my opinion this runabout is one of the most beautiful Spykers that have
remained. It has a 2799 cc 18 hp 4-cylinder engine with Zenith-Spyker carburetor.
The rear wheels are driven by a cardan shaft through a three speed gearbox.
Also the engine features the transverse camshafts. Advantages at the time were a
more silent running of the engine with less vibrations and, because the valve
tappets were placed inside the engine, less wear by dust and sand. But there
were downsides to this construction too: it was hard to regulate and prone to
malfunction. Still, for a while it was quite popular.
All in all the 1910 models, well designed and with a high standard of built
quality, proved to be a turn for the better for the Dutch manufacturer.
 1911
saw an addition to the range which was introduced a year earlier: the top of the
line 25/30 HP model. This 4199 cc 6-cylinder model with two transverse camshafts
was however a failure and had many reliability and engineering problems.
In 1912 a small 7 HP prototype appeared in an attempt to boost production and
sales. It was powered by a 1106 cc 2-cylinder unit and featured a pressed steel
chassis and a three speed gearbox. But soon Spyker discovered that it wasn't
able to compete with manufacturers like Humberette, Singer, Swift and Peugeot
who had already entered this segment of the market. The small Spyker was
expected to be too late and too expensive so the development of this model was
stopped and the management decided to concentrate on luxury cars only.
 One
of the prototypes of the 7 HP model has survived to this day like you see on
these pictures and shows how an affordable Spyker could have looked.
In 1912 Spyker introduced three new models: the 20 hp, the 30 hp
and the 40 hp. The models from the 1910/1911 range also remained in production
and only slowly disappeared from the company's catalog starting 1913, so the
range of models on offer was exceptionally wide for a few years. The 1912 models
all featured 4-cylinder engines with transverse camshafts; the 20 hp had 3435 cc
displacement, the 30 hp 6082 cc and the 40 hp a huge 7238 cc. All had four speed
gearboxes and were able to exceed 90 kph.
In 1913 the Sport-version of the 20 hp became available. It had a twin-spark
ignition system and a maximum speed of 100 kph. It also boosted the new sporty
V-shaped radiator which became available on the other models as well. Together
with the 20 hp Sport the new 14 hp was shown. This was an intermediate model
between the existing 12 and 18 hp models and had only one transverse camshaft.
In 1914 the 12 hp model was replaced. The new 12 hp had a 1795 cc 4-cylinder
engine based on the 14 hp model. The production of this model, and all others
from before 1914, was terminated in 1916 and this marked the end of the pre-WW 1
production period.
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