1928 Hispano-Suiza H6B Cabriolet de Ville by Hibbard & Darrin
Chassis No.: 11707
Make: Hispano-Suiza
Model: H6B
Body Type: Cabriolet de Ville
Coachbuilder: Hibbard & Darrin
Year: 1928
An Exquisite Example of Hispano-Suiza Luxury
This 1928 Hispano-Suiza H6B, chassis 11707, represents the pinnacle of luxury motoring from the interwar period. Built to order for Seymour Knox II, a prominent businessman from Buffalo, New York, the car reflects the refined tastes of an individual who had previously owned a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost and was an appreciator of both fine automobiles and modern art.
Masterful Coachwork by Hibbard & Darrin
The body was custom-built for Mr. Knox by the celebrated Parisian coachbuilders Hibbard & Darrin, founded by American designers Thomas Hibbard and Howard “Dutch” Darrin. Constructed using their patented all-aluminum Silentlyte process, the coachwork was both lightweight and highly durable. The car was lavishly appointed, featuring fine inlaid woodwork, exquisite metal hardware, and an innovative rear window system with crenellated glass edges that could be raised and lowered via a clockwork gear mechanism.
A Well-Preserved Provenance
Mr. Knox retained the Hispano-Suiza until the late 1950s, when he was convinced to part with it for a mere $500. The car was then acquired in 1965 by noted enthusiast Morton Bullock III, a longtime member of the Classic Car Club of America (CCCA).
In a 1990 interview with author Beverly Rae Kimes, Bullock recounted that he had purchased the car from Inskip’s of New York City, a historic dealership known for selling the first Rolls-Royce automobiles in the U.S. The car was nearly complete at the time, missing only its original trunk, and had recorded just over 21,000 miles. According to Sam Manton, the mechanic who serviced the car for Mr. Knox, the Hispano-Suiza had remained almost entirely within Buffalo, used mainly for local parades and chauffeuring dignitaries.
A Careful Restoration with Original Features
Bullock undertook a comprehensive restoration, guided by Thomas Hibbard himself, who contributed color choices to ensure authenticity. The detective work led to the discovery of the original trunk, which had been crafted by Innovation Trunk Company of Paris and was found in a Long Island attic. The car remarkably retained its original Hibbard & Darrin badged radiator winterfront, a special order for Buffalo, as well as Marchal headlamps, a Stephen Grebel spotlight, and Notex driving lights.
A Decorated Show Car
Upon completion, the H6B became a star in classic car events, earning the CCCA Senior First Prize in 1994 and being featured in respected publications such as Automobile Quarterly (Volume 20, No. 2) and The Classic Car (1982, Number 3).
The Guyton Collection Legacy
In 1996, Fred Guyton acquired the car from his longtime friend Bullock, adding it to his renowned collection. Under Guyton’s stewardship, the car continued to be presented at prestigious concours events, most notably winning 2nd in class at the 2006 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
Now over four decades since its restoration, this Hispano-Suiza remains an exquisite example of pre-war luxury motoring, representing one of the finest surviving Cabriolet de Ville bodies crafted by Hibbard & Darrin.