1928 Hispano Suiza by Freestone & Webb
Ex-Sir Harry Oakes
Chassis No.: 11888
Engine No.: 301893
Make: Hispano-Suiza
Model: H6B
Body Type: Sedanca de Ville
Coachbuilder: Freestone & Webb Ltd
Year: 1928
Colour: Black with dark red leather interior
Technical Specifications
- Engine: Straight 6-cylinder, OHC, 6,597 cc
- Power: 135 bhp at 2,400 rpm
- Gears: 3 + reverse
- Brakes: Servo-assisted four-wheel braking system
- Top Speed: 85 mph
- Production: Approximately 2,200 units (1919-1930)
Hispano-Suiza: The Pinnacle of Luxury and Performance
The Hispano-Suiza H6B was the preferred choice of European Royalty, Indian Maharajahs, Hollywood stars, and industrial tycoons, offering unmatched engineering, luxury, and craftsmanship. Although Hispano-Suiza had Spanish origins, its French-built cars, produced at Bois-Colombes, established the marque at the forefront of luxury automobile manufacturing following World War I.
During the war, Hispano-Suiza engines powered some of the Allies’ most advanced fighter aircraft, leading to the adoption of the stork emblem from Georges Guynemer’s Escadrille des Cigognes. Drawing from this aviation expertise, Marc Birkigt designed the H6B's powerful 6,597cc overhead-camshaft six, derived from a planned V12 aircraft engine.
The H6B's innovative design included a lightweight, rigid chassis and an advanced servo-assisted braking system, so effective that Rolls-Royce acquired the rights to manufacture it under license. It combined high performance with luxurious ride quality, enabling Hispano-Suiza to compete directly with Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Bugatti, and Isotta Fraschini.
The H6B was both a grand tourer and a high-performance sports chassis, winning races like the Coupe Boillot at Boulogne in 1921 and serving as the preferred platform for Europe’s most distinguished coachbuilders.
A Unique Example: Ex-Sir Harry Oakes
This particular H6B, chassis 11888, was commissioned by Sir Harry Oakes, an American-born gold magnate who amassed immense wealth and lived in Bar Harbour, Bahamas. His mysterious murder in the 1930s became the subject of books and films, including Who Killed Sir Harry Oakes? and Passion and Paradise.
For a man of Oakes' stature, only the finest automobile would suffice. He selected the legendary Hispano-Suiza H6B, with coachwork by the prestigious Freestone & Webb Ltd, a company founded in London in 1923 and renowned for its refined, elegant designs.
The Sedanca de Ville bodywork was the height of fashion in the late 1920s, representing the state of the art in British coachbuilding. This particular car is strongly believed to be the same H6B featured in Johnnie Green’s book The Legendary Hispano-Suiza (page 163), a testament to its significance.
Exceptional Coachwork by Freestone & Webb
Freestone & Webb's attention to detail and craftsmanship elevated this Hispano-Suiza to a true masterpiece. The car boasts:
✔ Fabric-covered scuttle and paneling – Enhancing lightweight construction and silent travel
✔ Stephan Grebel headlights and pillar-mounted, matching swivel spotlight
✔ Twin side-mounted spare wheels – A hallmark of luxury grand tourers
✔ Dummy hood pram irons – Adding a distinctive, aristocratic touch
Finished in black livery with a dark red leather interior, the car exudes an imposing presence, further enhanced by the matured patina of an older restoration. This harmonious fusion of French engineering and British coachbuilding creates an automobile of unparalleled refinement.
A Storied Provenance and Remarkable Preservation
For over 40 years, the Oakes H6B resided in a prominent private collection in the USA, before returning to Paris in 1998 for the first time since its departure from Bois-Colombes in 1928. It was offered at the Brooks’ L’Hippodrome de Longchamp auction (Lot 70) in September 1998, where it was acquired by Pim Hascher.
Following its return to Europe, the car was exhibited at the prestigious Paleis Het Loo Concours d’Elegance in the Netherlands, a fitting venue for such an extraordinary vehicle.
Today, this imposing and distinguished Hispano-Suiza remains in excellent, original, and well-preserved condition.
An Opportunity to Acquire a Significant Piece of Automotive History
The 1928 Hispano-Suiza H6B Sedanca de Ville by Freestone & Webb is a true collector’s dream, offering:
- Unparalleled craftsmanship and historical importance
- A unique provenance linked to Sir Harry Oakes
- Superb engineering and refined luxury
- An enduring legacy of performance and exclusivity
This is a rare opportunity to own one of the finest examples of the legendary Hispano-Suiza H6B, a car that embodies the golden age of motoring at its absolute finest.