1923 Hispano-Suiza H6B Cabriolet (Fernandez/Fernandez et Darrin coachwork)

Proprietor of a major steel manufacturer in northern France. Believed to have returned the car to the factory in 1929 for rebuilding, possibly following accident damage, with mechanical components updated to current specification.

Car was discovered at a French breaker's yard at some point in the 1950s, with most original mechanical components reportedly still present.

Prominent French collector and dealer of the period; retained the car for several decades before selling it to Dutch buyers.

Dutch co-owners based in the Netherlands; carried out intermittent restoration work including coachwork rebuilding in Italy, with some body panels reskinned or reframed and original fenders conserved.

Celebrated Los Angeles Times chairman and prominent vehicle collector who commenced a comprehensive ground-up restoration; the project continued but was interrupted by deteriorating health.

Unidentified California-based owner who took the car with restoration still unfinished and placed it in storage.

Experienced Hispano-Suiza collectors who undertook the definitive restoration in collaboration with fellow collector Al McEwan and historian Hans Veenenbos, completing the car and debuting it at Pebble Beach in 2024.

Spanish Hispano-Suiza enthusiast who acquired the car while restoration remained incomplete; held it before it passed again.

First public appearance following completed restoration; the car was entered in a designated class and took top honors.

The chassis was returned to the Hispano-Suiza factory for a full rebuild, believed to have been prompted by accident damage; mechanical components were reportedly brought up to the then-current factory specification, including an updated engine block.

Referenced in Emile Polo's La Hispano-Suiza; the original carburetor, distributor caps, and valve covers were retained despite the block update.

A new cabriolet body was fitted by Fernandez or its successor Fernandez et Darrin, featuring a sweeping cowl, folding top with a disappearing-top well, nickel-plated brass beltline trim, and provision for dual side-mounted spare wheels.

Exact attribution between the two firm identities is uncertain owing to a period of management transition when Howard Darrin joined.

A comprehensive ground-up restoration was begun under Otis Chandler's ownership but was not finished before the car changed hands.

Work continued even as Chandler's health declined; the project was passed on unfinished.

A definitive full restoration was commissioned by Sam and Emily Mann, bringing the car to completion; the body was finished in black over light-gray leather, all trim was nickel-plated to original specification, Marchal headlights were fitted, and period details such as the disappearing top well and dual side-spare mounts were faithfully recreated based on surviving sheet metal and photographs.

Chassis identity as 10734 was verified through collaboration with historian Hans Veenenbos and collector Al McEwan; the original serial number plate was absent and research was required to confirm the car's provenance.

Partial restoration carried out during Dutch ownership, including coachwork rebuilding executed in Italy; sections of bodywork were re-skinned and re-framed where required, and the original fenders were restored. Work was left incomplete.

Undertaken by or on behalf of the Bruijn and Paalman partnership between 1989 and 2002.