Ex-Alec Ulmann and Crawford Aviation Museum Collections

1927 Hispano-Suiza T49 Short Chassis Drophead Coupe

Coachwork by Duple, London

3,746cc SOHC Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
Single Updraft Carburetor
90bhp at 3,000rpm
3-Speed Manual Transmission
4-Wheel Leaf Spring Suspension
4-Wheel Servo-Assisted Mechanical Drum Brakes

*Rare British Delivery Hispano
*History including ownership in major US collections
*Well-proportioned touring car
*Eligible for CCCA and Hispano-Suiza Society events

HISPANO-SUIZA T49

Sensation of the 1919 Paris Show, the H6 featured a light yet rigid four-wheel-braked chassis that matched its state-of-the-art power unit for innovation. Indeed, so good were its servo-assisted brakes that Rolls-Royce acquired the rights to build the design under license. The H6 combined performance with flexibility, comfort with good handling, and safety with reliability in a manner which enabled Hispano-Suiza to compete successfully with Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Bugatti, Isotta-Fraschini and the United States' luxury marques.

This success led to the introduction of two smaller but closely related Birkigt designs based on his H6, which were earmarked for production at Hispano's factory in Barcelona. These were the four-cylinder 2.5-liter T48 and six-cylinder 3.8-liter T49. Chassis layout followed that of the Paris-built H6, featuring semi-elliptic springing all round and torque-tube drive, as did that of the overhead-camshaft engines, which delivered 60 and 90bhp respectively. These two 'T' series models were in production from 1924 until 1933.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

This classically designed Hispano T49 has all the hallmarks of its origins, which were clearly the UK market when new. Beneath its hood, a supply plaque confirms it to have been retailed by Albemarle Motors of London, and it is understood that the original coachbuilder was the lesser known company, Duple.

According to captions on photos of the car in Johnnie Green's work on the marque, the car was built with the locker that it has behind the front seat for the original owner's Bobtail Sheepdog who would rest there while his children we relegated to the rear rumble/dickey seat! By the 1950s, the car was owned by the secretary of Les Hommes a l'Hispano, the then British club for the marque, now sadly defunct.

At this point it seems that the T49 left British shores to arrive in America, where it has been ever since. Its first recorded U.S. owner was car aficionado and founder of the Sebring 12 Hours Alec Ulmann. Ulmann was also a noted authority on both Hispano and Mercedes cars.

Ulmann eventually donated the car to the Crawford Aviation Museum in the 1980s, where it would remain for nearly 2 decades. During a period of deaccessioning, the Hispano was put up for sale. It was acquired by Frank Spain at a later auction in 1996. Prior to acquisition, it seems that some work was begun on restoring the car, and a relatively unsympathetic 'blow-over' paint job has been carried out, in addition, the Hispano has gained a Kellner coachbuilding plaque, but based on its history, and design this is clearly a misnomer.

An undeniably well-proportioned and handsome example of its breed, which the British might have referred to as a Doctor's Coupe in its day, it would surely make a wonderful and practical touring car for Hispano Society or CCCA events.