Hispano Suiza 16 HP Rabassada Barcelona Built Sporting Two Seater | Believed Sole Survivor

When enthusiasts speak about Hispano Suiza, many immediately think of the impressive H6 models or the majestic J12 of the nineteen thirties. Yet the origins of the marque lie in Barcelona, where Hispano Suiza built a range of lighter and more sporting automobiles in the early nineteen twenties. One of the most remarkable variants from that period is the 16 HP Rabassada, a model that directly reflects the early sporting ambitions of the company.

The car offered here was built in 1922 at the original Hispano Suiza factory in Barcelona. It represents the Rabassada variant of the 16 HP, a version developed on a shortened chassis and equipped with a powerful four cylinder engine of approximately three liters producing around sixty horsepower. For its time this was an impressive specification, particularly when combined with the lightweight two seat body that clearly emphasized a sporting character.

The name Rabassada refers to the famous Rabassada Hill Climb in the Serra de Collserola near Barcelona. During the nineteen twenties this climb became an important testing ground for manufacturers who wished to develop and demonstrate their cars under competitive conditions. Within Hispano Suiza a car of similar specification was used for the three liter racing class under the initiative of the company's president at the time, Damian Mateu.

According to specialists and collectors this example is believed to be the last surviving 16 HP Rabassada. Among Hispano Suiza enthusiasts the model is regarded as an exceptionally rare variant with clear links to the sporting heritage of the brand.

The history of this automobile has been known among collectors since the nineteen seventies. During the nineteen sixties the Hispano Suiza was acquired by an American enthusiast of early European automobiles. During his ownership the car was carefully restored with considerable attention to detail.

Later, in the late nineteen eighties, the car was acquired by a prominent collector. Within his collection the Hispano Suiza remained for more than thirty years as part of a carefully assembled group of remarkable pre war automobiles. During that period the car was preserved as a characterful and historically interesting example.

Today the automobile still retains clear elements of that earlier restoration period. What makes this Rabassada particularly fascinating is its unmistakable character. The compact chassis, lightweight body and relatively powerful four cylinder engine combine to create a car with a distinctly sporting temperament. It is exactly the type of automobile that transports you back to the pioneering years of European motorsport when manufacturers tested their engineering directly on mountain roads and hill climb events.

Within the world of Hispano Suiza such cars are extremely rare. Most enthusiasts know the marque primarily for its large luxury automobiles of the nineteen thirties, yet these early sporting models reveal another side of the company.

This 1922 Hispano Suiza 16 HP Rabassada therefore represents a particularly interesting collector's piece for enthusiasts of early European automobiles. The combination of its Barcelona origins, the Rabassada connection and its long history within several notable collections gives this car a unique place within the Hispano Suiza world.

You are warmly invited to visit Gallery Aaldering in Brummen to see this remarkable Hispano Suiza in person. Do you live outside the Netherlands? No problem. We have extensive experience with worldwide sales and export. Since 1975 Gallery Aaldering has been a family owned company with a deep passion for exceptional and classic automobiles.

* "The last survivor of the 16 HP series" - Believed by experts and collectors
* With bodywork references to Hispano-Suiza's sporting past
* Restored in the past with dedication
* Part of a number of important collections of "old school" enthousiast
* Mysterious but accurate - History known to connoisseurs since the 1970s
* The Spanish 'Hisso' with a bold character