Chassis No.
12034
Founded in 1904 between the partnership of Marc Birkigt, a Swiss engineer, and Damin Meteu, a Catalan entrepreneur, Hispano-Suiza would build a distinguished reputation in a short amount of time. By 1911, Hispano had introduced the H6, a six-cylinder luxury automobile that became the companys staple and quickly became the vehicle of choice on the racetrack because of its excellent performance and handling.
An updated and refined version of the landmark H6, comes this prestigious 1929 Hispano-Suiza H6B Cabriolet. Well-known among the Hispano-Suiza community and well-documented, this example, Chassis 12034, is widely considered to be one of the most elegant grand luxury automobiles of the 1920s, which makes quite the statement considering other automobiles offered during this time. Crafted by the gifted hands at Hibbard & Darrin, this Hispano would live an interesting life, being imported throughout America and Europe all while collecting an array of prestigious awards.
According to factory records, Chassis 12034 left the factory on March 2nd, 1929, and immediately went across town to Hibbard & Darrin to be fitted with its custom coachwork. Records also indicate it was delivered new in the latter half of 1929 to Mr. Clark de Pease in the United States, who was the U.S. sales agent for Hispano-Suiza. 12034 would spend much of its early life in the United States and be placed in dry storage for 30 years, according to the Hispano-Suiza Society Club Newsletter, which was put together by the late J. Heumann, world-renowned Hispano expert. After being stored for quite some time, this H6B was then acquired and imported to England by noted historic car dealer Charles Howard in the early to mid-1970s. A color photo of this example while in Charles Howards possession in 1975 ispresent. Toward the end of the 70s, this Hispano appeared in a Coys of Kensington auction, as the Hispano-Suiza Newsletter will note. Its next owner in the 1980s would take this Hispano and further its elegant appearance by restyling and updating it.
The restyle consisted of the front windscreen being slanted back and the faux top was changed to a desirable Hispano three-position convertible top, resulting in the side windows being more of a trapezoid shape than a rectangle. The three-position configuration allows for the top to be up, down, or partially open, giving it more of an exotic look. The fenders were updated to look more 1930s Fernandez et Darrin as evidenced in photos. The running boards were separated and affixed to the front and rear fenders and the door handles were also given a more elegant Art Deco look and feel. The dual spare wire wheels were also replaced to match the original ones. 12034 would then go into ownership of a private Swiss collector. While being trailered to him, it was involved in an accident where it ended up in a ditch with the trailer on top of it. Ensuring the body-off-the-frame restoration was done to the highest standard, famed Swiss restorer, Walter Kng Coachworks of Basel, Switzerland was pinned with the task. The restoration would take just over two years to finish, and the outcome was truly special, and the car would begin winning awards almost immediately. Among those awards were a First in Class and Best of Show at the European Concours dElegance in Duesseldorf Galopp, Germany, First in Class at Preis des Landes Banen in Wrttemberg, Germany and exhibited at the Villa dEste Concours. Remaining in the private Swiss collection until 2011, this Hispano would find a new home once again in the United States.
It would go on to partake in the Rolex Tour dElegance and be exhibited at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours dElegance in 2014. This striking Hispano-Suiza was carefully looked after while residing in a privately owned collection consisting of some of the most desirable pre-war classics. Along with this Pebble Beach appearance, this H6B Cabriolet added another award to its list, as it won Best Foreign Classic at the 2022 Boca Raton Concours dElegance, proving its restoration was completed to a very high standard and it still holds an incredibly significant spot in automobile history.
Most recently, this example was acquired by a noted collection in 2023, where it was admired among other automobiles that had captured various Best of Show and Best in Class awards from concours events around the world.
Powered by an aircraft-derived 402.6-cubic-inch six-cylinder engine with an impressive 135 horsepower, it stands ready to continue driving onto the show field or partaking in highly regarded tours around the world. Chassis 12034 is truly stunning and is an outstanding example. Well-known and well-documented by some of the top Hispano-Suiza experts in the country, this H6Bs combination of refined performance and elegance will add a valuable and striking element that is ideal for notable collections, concours, and tours.
* Exquisitely maintained older body-off-the-frame restoration by Walter Kng Coachworks in Basel, Switzerland
* Exhibited at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours dElegance
* Well-documented and known among the Hispano community
* Best in Show at the 2004 European Concours dElegance
* Best Foreign Classic at the 2022 Boca Raton Concours dElegance
* Styled with the desirable three-position cabriolet top configuration
From the Kruse Auctions
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