Miguel Sánchez
PHOTOS HISPANO-SWITZERLAND K6 CABRIOLET BRANDONE: RM SOTHEBY'S
This 2019 the auctions of the Retromobile they come very interesting. The one that is creating the most rivers of ink is that of the Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring. However, there are others that are most striking ... It is the case of the one that offers a Hispano-Suiza K6 Cabriolet bodied by Brandone. A copy perfectly restored to its original condition and that is one of the most successful units in the entire history of the model.
Offered by UK RM Sotheby's, This convertible hopes to lower the deck between one million three hundred thousand or million and a half euros. Of course it is not a negligible figure, but it is that this Hispano-Suiza has multiple reasons for reaching that quote. Oh, and before I start to explain them ...
Let's seal a discussion that often revolves around these vehicles. It is Spanish? Is it French? Well then for us it is about Spanish technology.
Certainly the K6 is one of the Hispano-Suiza manufactured in the brand's French plant. But beyond the assembly line ... The design, prototypes and all development tests were carried out at the La Sagrera parent factory. Is it shocking that in the decrepit Spain of the 30s direct competitors of Rolls-Royce were devised? Well yes, but remember that the Pegasus Z-102 it comes out of a similar context. Things of our "Iberian ring" ...
HISPANO-SWITZERLAND K6: HALF A J12
Manufactured between 1934 and 1937 the K6 He is a very continuous Hispano-Suiza. And it is that, although during the 20s the H range was revolutionary thanks to its multitude of technical innovations ... At the beginning of the 30 Swiss engineer Marc Birkigt was not so daring in the design of the successor range. Thus, the Hispano-Suiza K6 came to reproduce a successful formula years ago but already outdated by the mid-30s. For example, the chassis introduced almost nothing new, continuing with rigid axles instead of the new independent suspensions.
Even so, its commercialization was successful, producing some 204 or 206 units as standard depending on whether we consult one source or another. Regarding the engine, the Hispano-Suiza K6 mounted a six-cylinder where reliability was combined with smoothness. An ingenuity capable of giving 140CV at 3.200 rpm.
"THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CAR IN ALL OF FRANCE"
Left Bois Colombes on May 4, 1935, chassis 16035 left for the workshops of Etienne Brandon on the Côte d'Azur. Not a bad place to get inspired to create fabulous convertibles… In fact Brandone set up his business in Cannes for just that. Attracted by the demand for this type of car made by the affluent customers concentrated in the coastal resort town.
But okay, although convertibles were his specialty ... You have to be fair and admit that with this Hispano-Suiza K6 he literally embroidered it. In fact, the model was presented to several elegance contests, promoted by La Carrosserie magazine to "Most beautiful car in all of France" in 1935 together with a Mercedes Saoutchick.
Without a doubt it is one of the Hispano-Suiza K6 with a more captivating appearance. A unique piece in which the best of an era merges both in mechanics and design. Anyway, the Alfa Romeo 8C up for auction is the most spectacular ... But this Hispano-Suiza is not lagging behind in attractiveness. We will be attentive to the development from Retromobile Paris!
