In the same family for over 56 years
1927 Hispano-Suiza H6B 32CV Coupé Chauffeur

● Delivered new in Paris
● In the same hands since 1967
● Took part in the "Paris en Fête – Paris en Vogue" show in 1985

The choice of members of European royal families, Indian Maharajas, Hollywood stars and industrial tycoons, the legendary Hispano-Suiza was magnificently designed and unabashedly imitated by some of the greatest car manufacturers. Although the marque is of Spanish origin, it was the Hispano-Suiza models built in France that placed the marque among the foremost prestige and luxury carmakers in the aftermath of the First World War. During the war, the most prestigious of fighter planes were equipped with Hispano-Suiza engines and, after the war, the marque adopted as its emblem the stork of the Escadrille des cigognes of French ace Georges Guynemer, whose biplane SPAD used a Hispano V8.
Unsurprisingly, the first post-war Hispanos made extensive use of this experience, with a 6,597cc six-cylinder overhead camshaft engine, designed by Marc Birkigt based on half of an aviation V12. This engine, built around a seven-bearing crankshaft with pressure-fed lubrication and an integrated three-speed gearbox, featured aluminium-alloy pistons running in steel cylinder liners screwed into an alloy block. Its maximum power was 133bhp, reached at 2,400 RPM, while the almost flat torque curve allowed acceleration from walking pace to 85mph in top gear alone. A handful of H6 prototypes were built at the Barcelona factory – with King Alfonso XIII taking delivery of a model in April 1918 – before production proper began at the Bois-Colombe factory near Paris.
The star of the 1919 Paris Motor Show, the H6 was built around a rigid chassis with four-wheel braking, matching the excellence of its engine in terms of innovation. Its assisted braking was so good that Rolls-Royce acquired the rights to produce the system under licence. The H6 allied performance and flexibility, comfort and handling, safety and reliability, making Hispano Suiza a formidable competitor with Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Bugatti, Isotta-Fraschini and the major American luxury marques. Large enough to accommodate formal coachwork, the cars were also fast enough to attract the more sportingly inclined, with aperitif heir André Dubonnet winning the Coupe Boillot in Boulogne in 1921, while European coachbuilders vied to build their coachwork around Hispano's thoroughbred chassis. The finish of the Hispano-Suiza was of the highest quality and its aura of glamour made it the star of two popular novels of the early 1920s, L'Homme à l'Hispano and The Green Hat. The most sophisticated car upon its presentation and for several years afterwards, the H6 remained in the catalogue until 1936, by which time 2,158 chassis of all types had been built.

This chassis, no. 11690, was delivered in 1927 to Miss Mercedes Dose, at 41 Rue Emile Menier, in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. Its first owner, a patron of the arts, an intellectual and a collector, was close to artists such as Paul Jouve , but also a loyal supporter of the Musée de l'Homme in Paris. She had chosen the marque with the stork mascot to get around the city, the car being equipped with optional De Ram suspension, also with a radiator stone guard. In the early 1930s, 1933 according to our sources, the Hispano was entrusted to Etablissements Eug. Girard Fils, 2 rue des Ecluses Saint Martin in Paris, to be embellished with highly luxurious coupé-chauffeur coachwork. That was how its current owner discovered it in 1967. This fine specimen had been kept safe on the premises of a print shop in Saint-Ouen, which was to be demolished to make way for the future Parisian Périphérique. It was on 3 November 1967 that it entered the family.
On 14 May 1969, the great H6 took part in the Club de l'Auto's Paris-Nice race, before, on 31 January 1970, transporting royal husband and wife-to-be, Prince Jean-Stanislas Poniatowski and Sabine Marchal, to the church for their wedding. Only fitting, for those aware of the shared history of the marque and the Poniatowski family.
In 1971, the H6B would be the wedding car for the couple who still own the car today.
On 12 April 1971, the car also made an appearance on the small screen, in Maritie and Gilbert Carpentier's 1925 sur la Deux, a French variety program with Salvatore Adamo, Jacques Dutronc, Sylvie Vartan and Françoise Hardy.
On Friday 14 June 1985, the Hispano and its owners were invited to "Paris en Fête - Paris en Vogue" - Rétrospective de la Haute Couture et de l'Automobile. An event organised by the director of Vogue Magazine, Jean Poniatowski, and presided over by the mayor, Jacques Chirac. Chassis 11690 opened the show for Balmain, followed by a Voisin for Lanvin, a Rolls-Royce Kellner for Chanel, a Mercedes-Benz 540K for Paco Rabane, even a Delahaye 165 Figoni for Givenchy, the show, led by the world's greatest collectors, took place on the Champs de Mars in Paris of course.
In 1989 and 1990, the Hispano took a break at the Centre International de l'Automobile de Pantin.
Used less since, and kept warm, dry, and on chocks, this model's condition makes it rare today. It still has its original woodwork, upholstery and leather, all still very well maintained! Having unfortunately not been driven in recent years, the car's engine has seized; it will therefore require proper recommissioning before taking part in future events.
Sold with its French registration document (carte grise), which states that it was first commissioned in 1925, various photos and documents from the time, this Hispano-Suiza with a Parisian past presents a rare opportunity to take up the baton after so many years in the same hands.

We would like to thank the Club Des Anciennes Automobiles Hispano-Suiza for their valuable assistance in piecing together the history of this car.