This unique Hispano-Suiza will be auctioned for one million euros.
The Hispano-Suiza H6B, one of the most admired jewels of interwar automotive history, has returned to the scene in all its splendor. After a painstaking restoration, the model was crowned First in Class at the prestigious 2024 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
This car, designed by Swiss engineer Marc Birkigt, was a technological revolution in the 1920s. It featured a six-cylinder engine derived from aviation technology and servo-assisted brakes on all four wheels, something unheard of at the time.
After its success at Pebble Beach, the Hispano-Suiza H6B is ready to continue dazzling at other international competitions. During Monterey Car Week, Sotheby's auction house will open bidding for this gem, which is expected to fetch over one million euros.
The chassis featured in this story, number 10734, was delivered new in June 1923 to French businessman Albert Venot. Just six years later, the vehicle returned to the factory for a complete mechanical overhaul.
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Shortly after, it received the cabriolet body it still sports today. Its design is attributed to Fernandez or the renowned firm Fernandez et Darrin, famous for its elegant proportions and luxurious details such as nickel-plated brass trim.
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The car's life took a turn in the 1950s, when it ended up forgotten in a French scrapyard. There, it was rescued by collectors who, over the decades, transported it from Europe to the United States.
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One of its most famous owners was American publisher Otis Chandler, who kept it without completing its restoration. The car passed through several other hands, always as a pending project.
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In 2015, renowned classics collectors Sam and Emily Mann took on the challenge of bringing it back to life. They enlisted the help of Hispano-Suiza expert Hans Veenenbos to identify and document each original piece.
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The restoration included a faithful reconstruction of the body, a gloss black finish, and a light gray leather interior. Marchal headlights and a low bronze windshield complete its original appearance.
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The work was carried out with the utmost respect for authenticity, preserving historical components and faithfully replicating period materials. The result is an outstanding example of Fernandez et Darrin coachwork.
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