Back then, the car was highly admired and had already become seductive: beauty, power, luxury. And also power: Hitler pressured companies, such as Auto Union and Mercedes Benz, to build exceptional vehicles designed to enhance the Reich's world prestige; and also, that they invent engines destined to reach the maximum speed, perhaps the most competitive in such a fierce race.
It was not surprising that the announcement of the arrival in the midst of the 1929 International Exhibition of the mythical Golden Arrow (Golden Arrow) became news. The expectation was enormous, since he had just broken the world record by achieving nothing less than reaching this top speed: 372.34 kilometers per hour. Place: the beach of Daytona (Florida). Driving: Sir Henry Seegrave.
The car was sent to Barcelona in a protective box. The legendary vehicle deserved a place of honor in the South Palace, home of the British pavilion, inaugurated on June 23. The ambassador thanked Sir Henry in his speech for having lent such a jewel.
The owner had come from the north of France at the wheel of his formidable Hispano-Suiza, not without suffering a puncture and the loss of an exhaust pipe; in his case, simple anecdotes. The important thing was that he had managed to beat another speed record. All an ace Altogether, it meant one more laurel for the most coveted world automobile brand of the time at the time when Hispano-Suiza celebrated the 25th anniversary of its foundation in Barcelona.
These were the singular data of the Arrow: 12 meters in length, two in width and one in height; 5,000 kilos of weight; 12 cylinders that developed 900 HP at 3,000 revolutions; Ice-cooled Napier aircraft-type engine. It had cost £20,000 (£680,000 just before the Wall Street crash).
The whole constituted a spectacular bodywork: aerodynamic, slim, close to the ground, turned and elongated shapes to avoid the brake of the air thrown at such speed. In short, a sculptural form of disturbing beauty.
It remained on display until its return at the end of December. Finally Sir Charles Wakefield bought it to donate it to a British museum.
