1925 Hispano Suiza H6B Landaulet

The Spanish (and later French) Hispano-Suiza was produced from 1904-1938. The H6 series was introduced at the 1919 Paris Automobile Salon. The chassis was complemented by servo-assisted brakes, which Henry Royce found so admirable that he acquired a license for the system for Rolls-Royce in 1925. The year previous, legendary driver Woolf Barnato drove his Hispano-Suiza around the Brooklands circuit breaking eight international records while averaging 92 mph for 300 miles. In the early 1920s, it was rare for a car to reach 100 mph - the Hispano-Suiza did it easily and with style. As one of the world's most expensive cars, the H6 clientele was decidedly limited. Its influence was much greater as GM's Harley Earl admitted to modeling the 1927 LaSalle after the Hispano-Suiza.

This H6B was built to order for American industrialist Andrew Mellon as a gift to his daughter Ailsa, who had written to him, saying she 'hated taxis.' The landaulet coachwork, built by Kellner to Mellon's requirements, harbors an inline 6-cylinder with overhead cam displacing 6.6 liters. The block and head were cast in an aluminum unit with steel sleeves, the electrical system has dual ignition and dual batteries, and the brakes have servo assist.

Mellon was at that time, one of the wealthiest men in America. The car was used at the family estates in Pittsburgh, PA, and Long Island, NY. Ailsa was Mr. Mellon's Social Secretary while he was Secretary of the U.S. Treasury.

The current owner has a photograph of the car while it was in use in Washington, DC.

The Mellon's gave the Hispano to the family chauffeur. Upon his retirement, the current owner purchased it in very derelict condition in 1970. An exhaustive restoration began in 2003 and was completed in 2010.