This car was notable as the first French built Hispano-Suiza and for its long and successful production life as a top flight luxury car.The earlier cars of this Swiss-Spanish marque were built in Barcelona, where production continued through to the 1930s.

Mechanical sophistication

The pressed steel chassis and its leaf spring suspension were conventional, but together were matched to give the car a ride appropriate to the high-class bodies often fitted by coachbuilders. It has servo-assisted four-wheel brakes on lines that were to be followed by Rolls-Royce and at its heart was Marc Birkigt's superb engine. Following his aero-engine design experience it was a straight six, with alloy block and crankcase, steel cylinder liners and a seven bearing crankshaft. It was rated at 135 bhp and renowned for its flexibity a essential characteristic for a luxury car power unit.

Long life

An 8 litre version of the engine was introduced in 1924 for the H6C, or Boulogne, which was a more sporting car. The H6B six was to continue virtually unchanged though its long life. These two models were the only ones listed by Hispano-Suiza though the 1920s. Modified H6Bs were successfully raced, but the car deserves its niche in history as one of the bench-mark luxury cars of the 1920s, when it provided real comfort with high speed.

This 1921 H6B has a torpedo body that reflects pre-war practices. the famous stork emblem can been seen on the radiator filler cap.

Photo Autopresse
MCMXCI, Edito-Service S.A. D1 078 01-04