1925 Hispano Suiza H6B

Hispano-Suiza was formed in 1904 and soon found success producing trucks to meet a need in Spain. They produced cars as well, which earned them a reputation for their performance and reliability. Most were sold to European heads of state, which established the brand in luxury circles. Their reputation continued to grow as they enjoyed success in racing.

The name Hispano-Suiza translates from French to 'Spanish-Swiss,' which is appropriate, as this superb French automobile was born from the genius of a Swiss engineer, Marc Birkigt, and was originally produced in Barcelona, Spain. The French-built Hispano-Suizas, however, would become the most legendary. Hispano Suiza began building automobiles in 1914 but switched to aircraft engines at the onset of World War I.

Designed by Marc Birkigt, the straight-six engine was an all-aluminum unit with a 6,597 cubic centimeter displacement that benefitted from Birkigt's experience with aircraft engines and was essentially half of Birkigt's aviation V12 design but with overhead camshafts. It had two valves per cylinder driven by a single overhead camshaft and a pressure-lubricated crankshaft turning on seven main bearings. The engine was backed by a three-speed manual transmission and braking was by light-alloy drums on all four wheels with power assist, a first in the industry. The brakes were driven by a shaft from the transmission, and as the vehicle decelerated, its momentum drove the brake servo and increased the braking power.

The 'La Cigogne Volante' radiator emblem first appeared in 1919 and was the insignia of Captain Georges Guynemer's Stork Squadron of Hispano-Suiza-engined Spads.

The Hispano-Suiza was the most expensive automobile in Europe during the 1920s and was generally acknowledged as the most advanced automobile design in the world. The company sold the chassis only; the coachwork was up to the buyer. The H6 cars were built in Paris at the Bois Colombes factory and were followed by the H6B model for the 1922 season.

The Hispano-Suiza H6 was introduced in 1919 at the Paris Motor Show and produced until 1933 with approximately 2,360 examples produced (including the H6, H6B, and H6C). The replacement was the T68 or J12 which was fitted with a V12 engine with a displacement of just over 9.4-liters.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2021