SER1 4WD history - original and modern Spyker

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The first 4WD vehicle was designed by Ferdinand Porsche (yes, the founder of 
Porsche cars) for the Austrian truck manufacturer Jacob Lohner in 1900 (no 
typo).The first vehicle in the history of 4WD had electric hub motors on 
each wheel - the engine powered a generator for power supply. Porsche was 25 
years old when he designed the vehicle.
Four wheel drive and four-wheel-steer 4x4s include the 1900-1902 Cotta 
Cottamobile.
The Spyker is considered to be the world's first four wheel drive car. 
Apparently only one 4WD was made - now in a Dutch Auto Museum. The Spyker 
factory was in Trompenburg, Amsterdam. The family name was Spijker, with 
`ij', but the firm's trademark was Spyker because it largely exported to 
English speaking countries. The firm closed in 1925. A few years ago Maarten 
de Bruijn and Victor Muller brought the Spyker to life again. They too are 
lovers of fine automobiles but also have massive amounts of entrepreneurial 
drive. The trade mark has been registered worldwide and again bears the old 
emblem with the Latin saying nulla tenaci invia est via: to the tenacious no 
road is impassable. The heritage of the early Spykers has been passed on to 
the new generation, handcrafted according to the same tradition and using 
only the best materials available.
In 1907 Felix Caldwell and Norman Laurie Caldwell of South Australia applied 
for a patent to cover Improvements in and connected with driving and 
steering motor propelled vehicles. The patent described four wheel drive 
with four wheel steering: Drive to both front and rear axles is by propeller 
shafts and bevel gears. Half shafts carry the drive along live axles to 
open-style steering knuckles. Modern looking universal joints allow 
steering, and the drive continues through hollow stub-axles to drive fully 
floating hubs and the wheels. Quite a number of these trucks were built 
which tends to justify the claim of it being a production vehicle reather 
than a concept. Hope this adds to the story.
Bob Shannon
48, 49 80" undergoing restoration; V8 109" Station Wagon; Range Rover

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