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American gunsmith Benjamin B. Hotchkiss moved to France and established a factory manufacturing armaments in 1867. His business grew quickly supplying weapons for the French in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870. The firm of Hotchkiss et Cie relocated to Saint-Denis near Paris to accommodate growth reaching 400 workers with over 600 machine tools.
The company got into the car business as a sideline between major world conflicts. Panahard et Levassor and De Dion-Bouton each came to Hotchkiss around the turn of the century seeking the manufacturing of parts for their motorized vehicles. Encouraged by two major European car distributors, Hotchkiss produced their first complete automobile in 1903. The badge for the new automobile featured a pair of crossed cannons in homage to the company's roots in the armaments business. Automobile production ramped up with the help of a Mercedes Simplex the company purchased and copied heavily in its earliest products.
Production of cars was halted for World War I but resumed in 1919. A one model only policy, producing the four-cylinder AM, was instituted during this time and lasted until 1929. In 1926 Hotchkiss opened a new factory and installed a steel press allowing them to manufacture their own bodies. By 1933 the company offered five models, two four-cylinder cars and three six-cylinders. The cars could be equipped with twin-carburetors and the resultant increase in performance allowed Hotchkiss to win the Monte Carlo Rally three years in a row, 1932, 33, and 34. They would eventually also win 1939, 1949 and 1950.
In 1936, the company replaced the top of the line 620 model with the 686. The new naming convention was based on the number of cylinders followed by the bore of the cylinders in millimeters. This would be the most important car in the company's history as it would be standard bearer for the brand before and after World War II.
As happened before, Hotchkiss suspended production of cars during the war to concentrate on armaments and light tanks. After the war, they returned to automobile production but business grew slowly. The company purchased Delahaye in 1954 and shut down all car manufacturing in favor of trucks. The company was merged several times after that until the marque Hotchkiss was all but forgotten except by the wonderful cars of its past.
An interesting side note, in the automotive world the use of an open drive shaft connecting a transmission to a rear differential that is suspended on leaf springs is called a Hotchkiss drive. The name came from Hotchkiss being the first to use such a system in their early cars. -
Company
Hotchkiss et Cie
Make
Hotchkiss
Model
686 Paris-Nice
Body Style
Coupe, 2-dr., 4-pass.
Body Manufacture
Hotchkiss et Cie
Model year
1936
Wheelbase
121.7 in / 3,091 mm
Length
180.5 inches / 4,585 mm
Engine
inline-6, OHV, 213 cid / 3.5 L
Horsepower
120 hp @ 4000 rpm
Transmission
3-speed manual
Original Base Price
N/A
Brand Production
N/A
This Car Production
N/A -
The Hotchkiss 686 represented everything that Hotchkiss stood for, high quality engineering and production standards, restrained elegant styling, refinement throughout and mechanical quietness. The highly engineered chassis made use of independent front suspension, independent rear suspension via a live rear axle located by semi-elliptic springs, and hydraulic drum brakes to give a smooth and controlled ride with reliable stopping power.
The car was available with factory bodies or could be custom built by any number of the top coachbuilders. Either way the car was hand crafted and could be highly customized to the taste of the discerning customer. Chassis length and wheel base could vary to handle everything from sporting two-seat cabriolet to Limousine.
While Hotchkiss won the Monte Carlo rally for the first time in 1930 it distinguished itself by winning the Critérium Paris-Nice in 1928. To commemorate this victory, beginning in 1935 Hotchkiss labelled their performance option package “Paris-Nice”. The package included twin carburetors and different camshaft that increased power to 120+ bhp.
Following this car's purchase in 2009, it was subjected to a professional restoration by the French Bonnefoit workshop. Finished in bordeaux red paint and matching interior the car embodies the understated elegance of the brand with performance and driveability that set the standard of the day when it was produced.