To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' Amelia Island event, 8 - 9
March 2019.
Estimate:
$1,300,000 - $1,600,000
- The so-called "Postman's Hispano"
- Exclusive Cabriolet Le Dandy coachwork by Henri Chapron
- Superbly elegant expression of the coachbuilder's art
- Award-winning restoration by Steve Babinsky
- Classic example of a luxurious continental touring
automobile
The new and technically advanced Hispano-Suiza H6 was introduced in
1919. Ample power was delivered by the 6,597-cc, overhead-camshaft
six designed by Marc Birkigt, derived from one half of a proposed
V-12 aero engine. The engine itself was built in unit with the
three-speed gearbox and featured a pressure-lubricated crankshaft
with seven main bearings and aluminum-alloy pistons in
steel-sleeved cylinders screwed into the light-alloy block. A
substantial 135 hp was available at 2,500 rpm, and the virtually
flat torque curve ensured that walking-pace to 85 mph could be
accomplished in top gear alone.
The model was the sensation of the Paris Auto Salon. The chassis
was light, rigid, and very modern due to a four-wheel braking
system that provided stopping power to match the advanced engine
and drivetrain. Overall, the H6 offered a level of performance,
handling, flexibility, and reliability that in a single-stroke,
elevated Hispano-Suiza to become a full-fledged competitor of the
finest marques: Isotta-Fraschini, Packard, Bentley, and
Rolls-Royce. It was no coincidence that King Alfonso of Spain was
an early and avid Hispano customer.
Soon, the finest coachbuilders in Europe were busy creating
luxurious and dashing bodies on the big Hispano chassis as royalty,
those of great means, and the merely wealthy flocked to own one of
these magnificent automobiles. The H6 was revised and improved in
1921 and became the H6B, which would remain in production until
1933, the final models consisting of the bored-out H6C with an
engine capacity of 7,982-cc that had been introduced in 1924. When
production ended, 2,158 chassis of all types had been
completed.
The cachet of a Hispano-Suiza was such that in 1925 a novel
appeared by Pierre Frondaie, titled L'Homme � l'Hispano, or The Man
in the Hispano. The book concerned itself with the amorous and
financial intrigues of the chic set, and not only did it become a
theatrical hit, it was also filmed twice in 1926 and 1933. So what
better transportation in the late 1920s than a Hispano-Suiza
clothed in superb coachwork by one of the great carrossiers? And
who better to create such coachwork than Henri Chapron? One did not
simply arrive in a Hispano-Suiza by Chapron, one made an
entrance.
Among stellar names in French coachbuilding, such as Saoutchik or
Franay, the Carrosserie Henri Chapron continues to shine. Over the
years, Chapron's work has acquired an enviable reputation for
superb elegance of proportion and impeccable perfection of line.
Other coachbuilders such as Figoni and Pourtout excelled in
sporting bodies, while Labourdette and Kellner specialized in
formal coachwork. Those who desired bon go�t, or good taste, sought
out Chapron for his unique combination of high luxury and
fashionable elegance.
Henri Chapron opened his enterprise in 1919, coincidentally the
year Hispano-Suiza introduced the H6. The company quickly acquired
a reputation for quality work, and by 1929, no less than 250
artisans worked to manufacture approximately 500 bodies per year.
In the late 1920s, a refined two-door cabriolet style was developed
called Le Dandy, a name Chapron would use for various convertible
bodies until the 1960s. Characterized by the sparing use of
ornamentation, the Le Dandy design displayed a perfect equilibrium
between the various body shapes that resulted in a harmonious whole
which was lovely to contemplate from any angle. A number of Delage
D8 received Le Dandy bodies, some with cycle fenders and some with
a full flowing fender treatment. All shared the superbly elongated,
yet not exaggerated proportions that can only be achieved by a true
master coachbuilder.
In 1931, Hispano-Suiza H6B chassis 11528 was fitted with just such
Cabriolet Le Dandy coachwork at the Chapron Works. The car was
reportedly owned by the Bey of Tunisia, first fitted with a body
that is no longer known. Five years after its manufacture, the car
returned to the Hispano-Suiza factory and was rebuilt to the most
up-to-date specifications. The car was then sent to Henri Chapron
to be rebodied as this very dandy cabriolet. And though
unconfirmed, it is believed that Chapron presented the freshly
dressed Hispano on their stand at the Paris Salon in 1932.
In the early 1950s, the car was imported to the U.S. by Alec
Ulmann, legendary sportsman and founder of the 12 Hours of Sebring.
Ulmann eventually sold the car to Joe Weider, a mailman from Long
Island, who famously drove it regularly over the next three
decades. Following Mr. Weider's passing, his prized possession was
sold to the current consignor, who oversaw its painstaking
restoration to original condition. The work was consigned to the
famous shop of Steve Babinsky, widely recognized as one of the
foremost classic restorers in the world.
Chassis 11528 has gone on to win awards at high-profile concours
d'elegance, such as Meadow Brook, the Elegance at Hershey, and
Hilton Head. Most significantly, the H6B won Best in Class at the
2004 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, heading a class of seven
Hispano-Suizas. In 2016, Chapron was the featured coachbuilder at
the Pebble Beach concours, where 11528 topped its class once again.
During this time, the car has been consistently maintained in the
exquisite, show-worthy condition it retains today.
The so-called "Postman's Hispano" is well known by historians and
collectors alike and is among the most beautiful, famous, and
superbly restored examples of its kind. The elegant sweep and
curvature of the full fenders meld seamlessly with the long hood
and svelte body to form an ensemble of great beauty. The classic
squared trunk fitted with continental spares lends a handsome
formal flair. Chrome is used judiciously on the pencil-thin
beltline and as accents on the front and rear fenders. The interior
is appointed with extravagant and luxurious woodwork and supple tan
leather that complement the clean lines and gleaming black paint
and cloth top of the exterior. In this way, the exterior and
interior of this sophisticated automobile strike a perfect balance
between opulence and refinement, between grace and grandeur.
The result is simply a show stopper.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction,
please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/am19.
