A luxurious fixed head coupe that must have been somewhat claustrophobic in the rear.
Identify the make, model, year and coachbuilder for one point.
Experts?
Bentley ?
Not a Bentley
British ?
French ?
My first thought was Delage or Delahaye, but I try something different : Hispano-Suiza J12 1935
I think you are close mekubb. That big blocky hood sure looks like a Hispano. However, I don't think that hood looks right for a J12. I'm going to call it a: 1935 Hispano-Suiza K6.
The coachbuilder is something of a mystery. I would normally say Swiss, but several things don't look quite right. I'll see if I'm close on the chassis, then dig deeper.
Yes it's a Hispano-Suiza but not a J12.
It is a K6 that is a few years younger than 1935.
I won't lock it yet as 4popold and mekubb both guessed the chassis make but I might lock it if one of them comes up with the correct year.
I think we have a problem. All my references say that the Hispano-Suiza K6 was not released until 1934. One reference specifically says August 1, 1934. So either the puzzle car is a '34 (and not "a few years younger" than our '35 estimate), or it isn't a K6. If your reference shows a '31/'32, it is likely a HS26, or Ballot, model, which the K6 replaced.
Quote from: 4popoid on February 01, 2013, 02:50:33 AM
I think we have a problem. All my references say that the Hispano-Suiza K6 was not released until 1934. One reference specifically says August 1, 1934. So either the puzzle car is a '34 (and not "a few years younger" than our '35 estimate), or it isn't a K6. If your reference shows a '31/'32, it is likely a HS26, or Ballot, model, which the K6 replaced.
Apologies I should have made it clearer - by younger I meant the car was built later than 1935.....
I found a picture of the car in a Japanese Auto Museum, saying that it's a 1935 Hispano-Suiza K6. But it didn't say who was responsible for the body. Could it be a bodied by a Japanese company ?
Quote from: mekubb on February 01, 2013, 04:12:01 AM
I found a picture of the car in a Japanese Auto Museum, saying that it's a 1935 Hispano-Suiza K6. But it didn't say who was responsible for the body. Could it be a bodied by a Japanese company ?
I now believe the chassis dated from 1935 but the bodywork was built later.
Yes, it's a Japanese-built body...
The only name(s) that appear in relation to this Hispano-Suiza are Nabeshima Naohiro
I think that we have located the same reference mekubb. The car in the Japanese museum is reputed to be a: 1935 Hispano-Suiza K6 with a "body designed by NABESIMA". Apparently Mr. Nabesima was the owner/designer, but the body was actually built by unnamed "Japanese craftsmen".
Well you are both correct in naming Nabeshima as the designer/owner and I'm sure that the car was constructed by Japanese artisans (who remain unknown for now).
I'm going to award you both a point as you have obviously been working hard to solve this one.
Any further information is, of course, very welcome.
Here's another view of the car -