The miraculous fate of the Nacional G

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Here is a car which could be considered pre and post war. Spain was neutral during the II World War, but suffered a Civil Conflict between 1936 and 1939. This car was planned during the war and was built between 1939 and 1940, so could be considered as "Spanishly" postwar. Be that as it may,  its history is worthy of a novel. The Nacional G cars were built in Zaragoza by two skilled friends called Natalio Horcajo (engineer) and Martin Gómez (mechanic). The chassis was relatively modern, with a central backbone and independent suspension at boith front and rear axle. Two different engines were tested, one water cooled and one air cooled, both twin cylinder two-stroke layouts of arund 600 cc. The two first prototype chassis were soon bodied; one as a usual two door coupe, and another as an "eye catching" roadster with fairing wheel wings, undoubtly created only as a show car.  Both vehicles were presented to the Spanish authorities and even to General Franco, who soon approved a grant large enough to start the company´s development. By mid 1940 everything seemed to be going well for the Nacional G cars... but suddenly a dispute between some high level Spanish army men (who were to be named as presidents of the Nacional G company) pulled the plug for the promising company. The obscure circumstances of the dismantling of the factory are unknown, but is clear that all the prototype cars and chassis were ordered to be destroyed. This was the "official history"... until the main photo appeared. It was taken in the late 1950s in Cadiz (South Spain), and the car was described as a "driving school car fitted with a Fiat Balilla engine". Later investigations have come up to the conclusion that this very same car was the Nacional G roadster! Apparently, this car escaped from destruction and finished its days very far from home in 'civilized' form with headlights, bumpers and without fairing. Unfortunately this Nacional G has dissapeared again many years ago, but who knows...

(text: Francisco Carrión ; photo:  J. Barrigá) 

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