Vehicle Description
Hispano-Suiza stands proudly among the greatest classic-era marques
in history. On par with Bugatti, Delahaye, and Isotta-Fraschini,
Hispano-Suiza produced some of Europe's finest motorcars from the
teens through the thirties. Based in Barcelona, Spain, the "Suiza"
part of the name comes from Marc Birkigt, a Swiss-born engineer who
founded the company and served as technical director from 1904
through the end of car production in the late 1930s. In its nearly
50-year history, the company expanded to include a production line
in France and even an aero-engine division with an American branch.
Early on, Hispano-Suiza built a wide range of vehicles, from a 10hp
four-cylinder to a mighty 60/75 horsepower six-cylinder tourer for
King Alphonso XIII. Hispano-Suiza was a car reserved for royalty,
entertainers, and society's elite. Europe's most prestigious
coachbuilders vied for the chance to put their name on
Hispano-Suiza chassis, resulting in some of the most stunning and
memorable motorcars of the pre-war period. Hispano-Suiza engines
are revered for their power and performance. The mighty V8 aero
engine, which made upward of 300 horsepower, played a vital role in
the Allied victory in World War I. Hispano shelved plans for a
twelve-cylinder successor to the V8, although Birkigit dusted off
the design for his first post-war automobile engine, fitted to the
legendary H6 model. Birkigit utilized essentially one half of the
V12 to create a mighty, 135 horsepower 6,597 c.c. inline-six
sharing many internal components with the aero engine. The success
of the H6 spawned two smaller models: The four-cylinder T48 and the
mid-sized six-cylinder T49. Introduced in 1924, the T49 utilized a
new 3.8-liter overhead camshaft inline-six that was closely related
to the mighty H6 engine but scaled down for the smaller chassis.
Despite its position below the H6, the T49 was still a prestigious
high-performance motorcar, producing 90 horsepower from its state
of the art engine. Between 1924 and 1930, Hispano-Suiza produced
the T49 exclusively in their Barcelona works. As with the big 32 CV
H6, the T49 appealed to sportsmen and royalty at home in Spain,
across Europe, and even in India where maharajas found favor in its
performance and durability. Marque historians estimate T49
production at about 900 cars in total, and it is believed that
fewer than 30 are known to exist today. Powerful, beautifully
crafted, and technologically advanced, the Hispano-Suiza T49 is a
jewel in the crown of Spain's motoring history. Wearing striking
seven-passenger phaeton coachwork, this Hispano-Suiza T49 is the
subject of a well-researched and meticulous restoration. Per
information provided by the most recent owner, this Barcelona-built
T49 was delivered new to Argentina, where it spent most of its
early life. Upon receiving its coachwork at the hands of a local
Argentine coachbuilder, Carroceria V. Marrugat y Cia, Buenos Aires,
the car was sold to the Argentine government and possibly used to
transport the newly re-elected president, Hipolito Yrigoyen.
Following Yrigoyen's downfall, the Hispano was sold or otherwise
disposed of by the new government, disappearing from the public
eye. In 1955, an American executive with Texaco Oil Company working
in Argentina discovered the Hispano-Suiza in a barn and somehow
managed to get the car out of the country and shipped to New
Jersey. The trail cools off again until the mid-1980s when the car
resurfaced in a disassembled state in the collection of Richard
Askern of Indianapolis, Indiana. He held on to the Hisso for many
years in hopes of restoring it, but eventually conceded the
project, and in 1998 he listed the T49 in Hemmings Motor News. The
most recent owners acquired the car from Askern, and soon embarked
on a meticulous restoration. The project consumed several years, as
parts and information proved scarce. A full teardown and rebuild of
the engine were performed, and the chassis and body restored to a
high standard. Their efforts were rewarded in 2017 with an AACA
National First Prize at Bettendorf, Iowa, followed by a People's
Choice Award at the 2017 Dayton Concours d'Elegance, and a
Distinction Award at the 2018 Cincinnati Concours. In addition, the
car has been awarded Full Classic� status with the CCCA. Still
looking fresh from restoration, this Hispano-Suiza T49 is stunning
in "Birkigt Blue" with black wings and cream-beige upholstery. The
body is quite stylish and sporty, with a steeply raked windscreen
and clean, sweeping lines. The quality of the finish is best
described as concours-quality, with gorgeous brightwork all around.
The seven-passenger cabin is also beautiful, featuring exquisitely
trimmed beige leather, superb restored original instruments, and
polished alloy and nickel brightwork. The top is done in tan canvas
and features a full complement of side curtains. A custom-fitted
plastic top cover, bound in matching tan fabric accompanies the
sale. The star of any Hispano-Suiza sits beneath the hood. In this
case, it is the 3.8-liter version of Birkigt's fabulous
overhead-cam inline-six. The crankcase is one impressive casting
that incorporates skirts to seal off the engine bay from debris,
and is a work of art in and of itself. The restoration encompassed
a full engine rebuild, including a repaired and reground original
crankshaft. The block, accessories, steering box, and other
components are painstakingly polished to a beautiful finish
resulting in a stunning presentation. The restoration of this
superb Hispano-Suiza was, no doubt a labor of love. These rare and
fascinating motorcars are among the finest European classics of all
time, although few survive outside of Spain. This award-winning
example is sure to please the most discerning collector. The
exquisite presentation, beautiful coachwork, and powerful
six-cylinder engine make it equally at home on tour or the concours
lawn. Offers welcome and trades considered For additional details
please view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/6530-1928-hispano-suiza-t49-tourer/
