1934 Hispano-Suiza HS26 all-weather roadster Felber

1934 Hispano-Suiza HS26 all-weather roadster Felber

The Hispano-Suiza HS26, known as the "Junior", owes this nickname to its smaller dimensions compared with its magnificent elder sister the 32CV. This model dates back to 1930, when the maker Ballot presented, on its Salon de l'Automobile stand under the great glass windows of the Grand-Palais, the new 6-cylinder 26CV aimed at widening the range to include the 8-cylinder RH presented three years before. The engine has a cubic capacity of 4,580 and 95 HP, and the wheelbase of the chassis is 3.56 m. The HS25 was approved by the Department of Mines on 30 September 1930, being known as a Ballot but with the mention "Hispano licence".

A few months before, in fact, the effects of the 1929 economic and financial crisis created severe difficulties for Ballot. The Boulevard Brune make, from Paris, was bought in 1931 by Hispano-Suiza France, which already had shares in Ballot's capital. The Ballot range was partly included in the Hispano-Suiza catalogue and the Ballot 26CV became the Hispano-Suiza HS26. Its engine, in fact, was already made by Hispano-Suiza. This engine had wet cylinder sleeves, thermostatic controls and a Scintilla dynamo. The hydraulic brakes have a Perrot system control. From 1930 to 1934, 124 HS26s were produced; Ballot produced only the chassis, while the rest of the car was assembled at the Hispano factory.

This Hispano-Suiza bears the chassis number 7082, and was originally ordered by the Comte de Madre. It rolled off the production line on 19 March 1934, as the factory books confirm. Its chassis and engine were entrusted to the French bodywork specialist Felber, whose factories were located at 33 Avenue de la Défense, Puteaux, and who had a display room at 71 Avenue des Champs-Elysées. This specialist produced an all-weather torpedo body with more modern lines than the chassis on which it rested. Although the vertical grille and long bonnet indicated a design that was already old, the sloping windscreen, the gently sloping step-plates and the profile rear wings show the bodywork specialist's wish to produce modern, more fluid lines. This progressive bodywork configuration imposed a number of restrictions, including the presence of a removable centre pillar to support the heavy bonnet. Because of this, the car, once discovered, enjoyed greater elegance. There has been an obvious effort to include the boot in the general line of the car, as well as a significant lowering of the base of the bonnet to refine the car's silhouette.

The chrome-framed door windows slide down into the doors by means of a rack controlled by a handle. The car is equipped with rayed rims. The rear wheels are concealed by covers, adorned with the famous stork motif. The driver can open the windscreen. The dashboard is of varnished wood, and in its centre is the plate with all the dials and counters required for the driving. The fittings in the passenger compartment are of magnificent Bordeaux leather. The door panels have leather covers with varnished wood mounted on top. The floor is covered with anthracite-grey carpet. The mechanics have been completely overhauled , and the engine bears the number 331 084.

The car spent many years in Britain and then in Switzerland before finding a Spanish buyer, and still has its Swiss grey card.

Descriptions & pictures by bonhams & coachbuild & hispanosuiza.webcindario & other