Hermes
1906 – 1909
Hermes or HISA (Hermes Italiana SA) was an Italian automotive manufacturer based in Napoli and founded July 10th, 1906 with operations into 1909. With the participation of the Belgian automobile manufacturer Metallurgique and capital mostly from Belgium, in the sum of 2 million francs, the company was started. The organizers were, the Belgian racing driver Baron Pierre de Caters, an Italian Alberto Monzi-Fe and Edmond Tart of the Liege Company.
Soon after the founding of the company, the first model was exhibited at the Paris Salon in December 1906. It was an advanced design with a 4 T-cylinder producing 20/24 hp, a four-speed gearbox, shaft drive and a steel chassis. The power source was mounted in a sort of "cradle", similar to the self-supporting structure of our modern cars.
In 1907, the model Tipo Unico was presented. It had a 3770 cc 4-cylinder engine that produced 35 hp at 1500 rpm. The vehicle was equipped with a 4-speed transmission and had a chain drive. The production lasted until 1909 when the company closed.
In 1908, a version with 40 hp at 1,300 r / min was built. It was provided with a cylinder block in a double aluminum and magneto ignition from Bosch. The hood, styled like one of the Renaults, also had a slanting radiator which distinguished it from the previous model. Some HERMES (HISA) participated in racing competitions, such as the "Coupe de la Commission sportive de l'ACF," hill climb, the "Spa Malchamps", the "Château-Thierry" and in 1908 at the "Cup of Oostende" but never had real great results.
The industrial crisis forced the plant to stop its operations in 1909, the high cost of the cars did not allow to compete with foreign competition which had much more capital.
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