PRAGUE GRAND – year 1927

Manufacturer: Ceskomoravska Kolben-Danek a. s., Prague, Czechoslovakia.

The name of the former capital of Czechoslovakia - Prague came from 1909 r. also the name of the cars produced at the Prague automotive plant.

W 1912 r. a passenger car was constructed, the strongest model of a typical Prague series, marked as Grand. Right from the first series, counting 25 pieces, three cars took part in the Alpine rally, on the counting route 2500 km and won, beating such a reputable brand, what was then the Rolls-Royce company. The Prague Grand of the first series had a water-cooled 4-cylinder engine with a displacement 3824 cm3, developing power 33,1 kW (45 KM). After the success also in the next Alpine rally, the Hungarian wagon factory Rabe obtained the right to manufacture and sell these cars in Hungary.

W 1927 r. the company expanded its production program with two inline 6-cylinder cars Alfa and Mignon, and the Grand model was equipped with an in-line 8-cylinder engine with a lower valve timing - SV. With the diameter of the cylinders 70 mm and piston stroke 110 mm reached capacity 3384 cm3. With two Zenith horizontal carburettors, the engine developed power 44,1 kW (60 KM). The classic chassis had rigid bridges, sprung with semi-elliptical springs, amortized with hydraulic Delco-Remy double-acting shock absorbers. Mechanical brakes on 4 the wheels were power-assisted. A car with a weight 1900 kg was developing a maximum speed 100 km/h.

The car's equipment depended on the wishes of the buyer. The super-luxurious models had spoked wheels, phone call to the driver, handle for walking sticks, tire inflation compressor, lighting of the steps after opening the door, self-deactivating turn signals, etc.. The interior was richly decorated with inlays and equipped with briefcases.

Later increase in the diameter of the cylinders to 80 mm resulted in raising the displacement of the 8-cylinder car to 4429 cm3. Maximum power reached 66,2 kW (90 KM) by 3000 RPM. W 1934 r. last z 1200 copies of the Prague Grand.

Today, a representative of this majestic car is on display at the National Technical Museum in Prague.