Hispano-Suiza

This image appears on the same page with the Prince of Monaco’s H6C De Villars Torpedo, above. Mlle. Deutsch De La Meurthe won the 940-kilometer Women’s Paris-Cannes Rally of 1930 in this H6C Torpedo. 

Both images can be found in Emilio Polo’s second Hispano-Suiza volume, the SAH Cugnot Award-winning, El Vuelo De Las Cigüeñas, (The Flight Of The Storks, 1999). 

Besides writing the 3 Hispano-Suiza volumes, Emilio Polo was a prolific writer of automotive history, with articles that appeared in many Spanish auto magazines and was the author of other car books. A frequent vintage rally and concours participant, he restored several of the old cars in his collection and was very well known in the hobby in Europe and beyond. 

After Sr. Polo's passing, a friend bought his rather large archive last year and it now resides in Limassol, Cyprus. It's a fascinating collection of bound volumes of early auto magazines, automotive guides, auto and topical magazines, reference books and more - one man's decades-long acquisitions of material that touches on all aspects of motive transport, mostly in Spanish and French. Stay tuned...

Emilio Polo in his Madrid office, around the time of the publication of his first Hispano-Suiza book, Los Orígenes De Una Leyenda. (The Origins Of A Legend, 1994).

TG

Because access to the collection is extremely limited by the Atwell family, I am curious if the Hisso owned by the Texas family is still in the Texas Hill Country (specifically Fredericksburg / Kerrville.   I did get a tour many years ago with a club group to see the car.

Also thinking the car listings in the CCCA might be a good place to 'mine' to see if some folks would like to forum here.

I'm not an owner or knowledgeable of H-S, just a Texan who happened across your post!   Good luck.

One in the National Auto Museum in Reno.

Craig

TG57RoadmasterJun 25, 2022

We should have of repository for Hispano-Suiza on the Forum. I’ll get the ball rolling with this query…

The Prince of Monaco’s H6C Grand Touring Torpedo by De Villars won first prize in Class A at the XXII Monte Carlo Concours d’Elegance in 1930. Emilio Polo’s Volume 2 indicates the Prince ordered two chassis within two months of each other: (12/29) chassis # 12248, motor # 302192; and (1/30) chassis # 12266, motor # 302208. 

Do we know if the De Villars Torpedo survived? 

The image was found in this 1930 issue of La Hispano Suiza Revista, from the Emilio Polo Archive, Limassol Cyprus.

TG

Seems as if the good Prince of Monaco was influenced by recent Harley Earl-lead styling... 

I think I saw that this was coming to auction at Pebble this summer?

Maybe one of the top 50 most iconic cars of all time?

8E45EJun 26, 2022

One in the National Auto Museum in Reno.

Craig

I saw this at Amelia a couple years ago. It is fantastically cool.

Obviously the colors aren’t helping it either…

alsancleJun 26, 2022

I think I saw that this was coming to auction at Pebble this summer?

Maybe one of the top 50 most iconic cars of all time?

Yes, with an auction estimate of $8-10M. Last year in a phone call they were asking much more, pie in the sky money. Saw it at Hershey in ‘89 - amazing!

58L-Y8Jun 26, 2022

Seems as if the good Prince of Monaco was influenced by recent Harley Earl-lead styling... 

My quest now is to find an actual photo of the car. The rendering certainly got around…

TG

TG57RoadmasterJun 26, 2022

Yes, with an auction estimate of $8-10M. Last year in a phone call they were asking much more, pie in the sky money. Saw it at Hershey in ‘89 - amazing!

I could see that car bringing crazy money.

alsancleJun 26, 2022

I could see that car bringing crazy money.

I think you can count the collections/collectors on one hand who will end up with it. I have two in particular in mind. I can’t believe it was 1989 when I saw it at Hershey. When was it last at Pebble?

Another gem from the Emilio Polo Archive, an H6C Cabriolet de Ville from a 1930 issue of La Hispano Suiza Revista.

Paris - IX Automobile Elegance Contest in the Parc des Princes, June 1930. Here is the splendid Hispano-Suiza 46 CV car, bodywork R. Duvivier, which after having obtained the first prize in the “cabriolets and landaulets” category, was awarded the Grand Prix for the “Transformables” series.

TG

Two different Hispano-Suiza coachbuilt “Transformable” ads…

From the July 1922 issue of Englebert Magazine, a Belgian tire and rubber products company magazine, published in Liège. 

From the December 1925 issue of Omnia, a popular French automotive and lifestyle magazine. 

We have just begun to mine the Emilio Polo Archive, and I must say it’s like being a kid in a candy store.

TG

OMNIA magazine ( French published 1920 to 1931) was a coated stock paper publication that due to its paper quality gave excellent reproduction of photographs that weren't to "grainy" like which would happen on newsprint type of paper It would have photos of all the concours, salons etc in Europe, mostly in France and also the annual "show  number" of LiL"Illustration each Autumn , as well as LaCarossiere magazine. There has to be photos and additional information in those periodicals - only trouble is trying to find a full run or even any issues here in the USA and even in Europe they are scarce and disappear into collections as soon as any become available. I will look to see what is in OMNIA as I have a full run ( it was a monthly!) of that except for about 6 issues at the end of their production. It won't be to soon I can do this as I am in the middle of 3 significant research/writing projects that I committed to that I have to finish to meet deadlines. Decades ago Jules Huemann of Ca. spent a day here with me looking at period H-S photographs when he was on his way to France to attend the annual H-S Society reunion. 

Walt, it’s so good the hear that you know of and have Omnia, L’Illustration and others (I would expect no less!), and I’ve just scratched the surface of Polo’s holdings. I’ll go back to Limassol in the fall and dive deeper into his archive, which eventually will be available for researchers once it’s organized. He collected and wrote much as you do, and I found many obscure publications covering salons and shows all over Europe. We’ll talk more about it soon.

La Vanguardia was a large tabloid newspaper that was short on pages but long on auto coverage - I’m sure you’ll enjoy these pages. Not the best paper quality, but quite legible and informative.

Look forward to chatting soon!

TG

It’s a little known fact. If the Hispano factory didn’t approve of your chauffeur, you would not get a warranty. They did offer to supply every car sold with a factory trained “man” at your expense to look after the car. Also, on special order bodies, you could rent one for your chassis while yours was being built. As long as you kept it insured, and the factory dealership in New York did all the work. 

Both are Pinnafarina Coupe de Ville.

Pininfarina 

I saw the car when Tom Perkins owned it. J12.

George KJun 27, 2022

Both are Pinnafarina Coupe de Ville.

 That car could have Pebble Beach winner circle potential.

alsancleJun 27, 2022

 That car could have Pebble Beach winner circle potential.

Both are early Pininfarina one off’s. I’ve never seen one or know if any survived. It would be the one I want.

I think I like the rear spare version. Side mount interrupts the hood line.

George KJun 27, 2022

I think I like the rear spare version. Side mount interrupts the hood line.

Now that you mention it, I agree.

In the past I would 100% default to rear spares in any situation as the preferred set up. It wasn’t until I was older I figured out there’s a lot of guys that like side mounts. So these days I tend to lean 60/40 rear mount.

On an expensive car rear mounts were usually a sport option. On an Inexpensive car side mounts were a deluxe option. That may explain some of the thinking.

Although, I would be happy to find either car!

alsancleJun 27, 2022

Although, I would be happy to find either car!

Alright let’s settle on this one so we can have it both ways. Unusual to have the option to carry four spares.

George KJun 27, 2022

Alright let’s settle on this one so we can have it both ways. Unusual to have the option to carry four spares.

That’s a good compromise!

An H6C from Paris...it may be chassis 12377, motor 320338.

”Paris - IX Automobile Elegance Contest in the Parc des Princes, June 1930. The Hispano-Suiza car of Mme. Higgins, Gaston Grümmer bodywork, which won category no. 5, ‘Four-door interior drives’ in the closed car series.”

 TG

Available

https://www.prewarcar.com/324922-1925-hispano-suiza-h6b-coach-million-guiet

The Saoutchik “Transformable” from the December 1925 issue of Omnia. A year later in the magazine’s December 1926 issue, this ad for the Transformable on a Lincoln L chassis appeared.

We know that at least one Lincoln L Saoutchik Transformable was built, seen in this Getty Images period photo, but with different fenders, wire wheels, the added trafficators and a Grebel spotlight.

TG

Saoutchik coachwork is hit or miss with me.  Especially in the 20s.    Later efforts seemed much more stylish.

 Picasso in his Hispano-Suiza.

Peter Ustinov’s Hispano Suiza J12 Binder Limousine. It was stolen from him.

Ustinov owed two Hispano-Suiza’s This is his H6C Vanvooren Faux Cabriolet.

You know who in his Hispano-Suiza early 1960’s.

This car was owned for decades by a very well known collector.   Super cool and it looks even better with the roof up.

Not to derail but Hispano wishes to reboot, somewhat like Bugatti has. Their website has an interview with their CEO, a family decendant, and they have videos of their prototype, the Carmen. It is pretty neat...not sure how long before it is seen on the boulevards of LA or Miami Beach....For sure it is at least a unique design with echos from their '30s styling in a modern aerodynamic package. No pricing mentioned so if you have to ask.....

For 1.7m I would have many other cars to buy. 1100hp electric

I really like the trunk on the back of that black H-S, great style and the plated strips accent its lines nicely without being over the top.

alsancleJul 16, 2022

This car was owned for decades by a very well known collector.   Super cool and it looks even better with the roof up.

It doesn't get much better than Hispano-Suiza and Hibbard & Darrin...

“THE AUTOMOTIVE PARTY OF GUADARRAMA

His Majesty the King in his racing car, accompanied by the infante Don Alfonso de Orléans,

speaking in the town of Guadarrama with the starting jury of the automobile contest held

from that point to Alto del León on the 21st of June.”

This car shown is King Alfonso XIII’s 1910 45Cr (Carrera) Series 68, #504, the most important

Hispano-Suiza of that time. The 7 kilometer, 316 meter course, a hill climb, went from Guadarrama

to Alto del León, outside of Madrid. The entire town of Guadarrama was virtually destroyed during

the Spanish Civil War.

Nuevo Mundo, from the Emilio Polo Archive, Limassol, Cyprus.

https://serhistorico.net/2017/10/19/guadarrama-un-pueblo-en-la-linea-del-frente-durante-toda-la-guerra-civil/

TG