1937 Hispano Suiza K6 Berline Sans Montants Vanvooren
1937 Hispano-Suiza K6 - 30CV
Carrosserie Vanvooren Berline sans montant centrale
Make: Hispano-Suiza
Model: K6
Body: Pillarless Saloon by Vanvooren
Year: 1937
Chassis No.: 15114
Engine No.: 333174
Vanvooren Body No.: 2837
A Rare and Historic Hispano-Suiza K6
Among the most historically significant Hispano-Suiza K6 models, chassis no. 15114 was originally ordered by Raoul Dautry, a prominent French engineer and politician, who played a pivotal role in the development of the French railway system and later served in various ministerial positions, including Minister of Armaments and Minister of Reconstruction. In 1937, under the directive of then-President Léon Blum, Dautry was appointed to manage Hispano-Suiza, making this car an integral part of both automotive and national history.
This K6 was completed on 9th July 1937, featuring pillarless saloon coachwork by the renowned Parisian coachbuilder Vanvooren. The design was highly advanced for its time, providing an elegant yet robust structure, complemented by the powerful 6-cylinder OHV 5,184cc engine, producing 140hp at 3,500rpm.
A Well-Traveled History
During World War II, the car was hidden by Dautry's chauffeur, preserving it from the war's destruction. It was later acquired by Colonel Lazare of the French Air Force in 1953.
In 1959, the car changed hands once more, when it was purchased by Hispano-Suiza dealer Garino in Paris and subsequently sold to Swedish businessman S.A. Hanson in 1961. For nearly 50 years, the K6 remained in Sweden, passing through the hands of collectors Christian Kugelberg (1966) and Per Svenfelt (1975), before being stored at the Laganland Bilmuseum near Malmö in 1980.
In 1983, Swiss businessman Jakob "Jack" Metz acquired the car but left it unrestored for over 25 years. Upon his retirement, Metz decided to sell the K6 in 2009, marking the end of its long dormancy.
The Restoration and Revival
In 2010, the Hispano-Suiza K6 was purchased by Martin Waltz of Kirchzarten, Germany. After two years of negotiations, a comprehensive and historically accurate four-year restoration was undertaken to preserve as much of the original material as possible. The car was completely stripped, revealing layers of original paint in a "warm" black color. Careful craftsmanship ensured that the wooden framework was repaired "in situ," avoiding modern restoration techniques that would have compromised the car's authenticity.
One key challenge in the restoration was addressing the car's original carburetor, which had been replaced with a Mercedes-Benz unit from the 1950s. The Cattaneo conversion, a twin carburetor setup commonly used by K6 owners in the 1930s, was selected to maintain period correctness while resolving the original engine's starting issues.
Following its restoration, this remarkable K6 returned to the concours circuit, making a triumphant appearance at the 2017 Concours d'Elegance Suisse at Chateau Coppet, where it secured 2nd in Class—an exceptionally rare achievement for a saloon car.
A Legacy of French Excellence
The 1937 Hispano-Suiza K6 Pillarless Saloon Vanvooren is a car of immense historical significance. It was driven by its owners for over 40 years before entering museum storage in the late 1970s. When it entered the VOLANTE Collection in 2010, its incredible originality made it one of the best-preserved examples of its kind.
Today, after more than 80 years, chassis 15114 stands as a testament to the finest traditions of French automotive engineering and coachbuilding, keeping history alive for future generations.