1935 Hispano Suiza K6

Hispano-Suiza was a cosmopolitan marque, with Swiss and Spanish roots and a parallel manufacturing base in France. The basis for the first Hispano-Suiza of 1904 was the Barcelona-built Castro designed by Swiss engineer Marc Birkigt. A series of T-head fours followed, attracting the attention of Spain's King Alfonso XIII. Just prior to the outbreak of World War I, the company incorporated overhead-cam engines, but with the outbreak of war, Hispano-Suiza turned to aero engines, built under the direction of Birkigt and engineered by Louis Massuger, also of Swiss origin.

When peacetime resumed, Spanish automobile developments placed 'second fiddle' to those of a new factory in France, which had opened in 1911. Among the early achievements was the H6 of 1919, which remained in production for a decade. Its straight-six engine was inspired by Birkigt's aircraft engines and was essentially half of the aviation V12. The all-aluminum unit displaced 6,597cc, had a seven-bearing crankshaft, and new overhead camshafts. The brakes were also very special, being light-alloy drums at all four wheels with power-assist, an 'industry first.' Driven by a shaft from the transmission, the car's decelerating momentum drove the brake servo, providing additional power. Rolls-Royce later licensed this technology for use on their vehicles.

A slightly more powerful H6B version arrived in 1922, followed by the H6C in 1924, employing an 8.0-liter (488 cubic inch) engine.

The Hispano-Suiza K6

The Hispano-Suiza K6 went into production in 1933 following the short-lived 'Junior' HS26 built in 1931 and 1932. Beneath the bonnet was a six-cylinder engine derived from the flagship 12-cylinder J12 (built from 1931 to 1938). Designed by Rodolphe Herrmann, it had pushrod overhead valves, dual downdraft carburetors, a 5,184cc displacement, and delivered 125 horsepower. This new engine had a 110-millimeter stroke with improved breathing, allowing for more horsepower than its spiritual predecessor (the H6) from fewer cubic inches of displacement. Power was sent to the rear wheels via a three-speed manual gearbox, and four-wheel servo-assisted mechanical drum brakes provided the stopping power. The braking system utilized a driveshaft-mounted servo-mechanism to complement the mechanical pressure applied to the brake pedal. The chassis was similar to the J12 but lighter and with a wheelbase size of 3,710mm (the same wheelbase as the J12 Court). It was suspended by a solid front and live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs. Many lightweight alloys and high-strength steels were used throughout its construction, providing a rigid and lightweight structure. (The brakes, gearbox, steering and suspension were identical to the ones used on the J12).

The Hispano-Suiza K6 was a proper grand tourer that was capable of cruising comfortably at 80 mph, achieving that speed with effortless smoothness. They were luxurious, stylish, superbly engineered, exclusive, and popular with Indian Maharajahs, Hollywood film stars, industrial tycoons, and European Royalty. It was a long-distance touring chassis for buyers who did not want the complexity or size of a J12 but enjoyed the same quality and similar prestige.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2023