*Hispano-Suiza 16 HP Rabassada: Barcelona-Built Sporting Two-Seater | Believed to Be the Sole Survivor*When people talk about Hispano-Suiza, many enthusiasts immediately think of the impressive H6 models or the majestic J12 from the 1930s. Yet the brand’s origins lie in Barcelona, where Hispano-Suiza built a series of lighter and sportier models in the early 1920s. One of the most remarkable variants from that period is the 16 HP Rabassada, a model that directly reflects the brand’s early sporting heritage.The car we are offering here was built in 1922 at the original Hispano-Suiza factory in Barcelona. It is the Rabassada variant of the 16 HP, a version developed on a shortened chassis and equipped with a powerful four-cylinder engine of approximately 3 liters displacement and about 60 hp. For its time, that was an impressive specification, especially in combination with the lightweight two-seater body concept that clearly had a sporty focus.The name Rabassada refers to the famous Rabassada Hill Climb in the Serra de Collserola, near Barcelona. In the 1920s, this hill climb was an important testing ground for manufacturers who wanted to develop and demonstrate their cars under competitive conditions. Within Hispano-Suiza, a car with similar specifications was used for the 3-liter racing class, on the initiative of then-president Damián Mateu.According to experts and collectors, this example is considered the last known surviving 16 HP Rabassada. The model is known among Hispano-Suiza enthusiasts as an extremely rare variant, with clear references to the brand’s sporting history.The history of this car has been known among insiders since the 1970s. In the 1960s, the Hispano-Suiza was acquired by an American enthusiast of early European automobiles. During his ownership, the car was meticulously restored.Later, in the late 1980s, the car was acquired by a prominent collector. In his collection, the Hispano-Suiza remained part of a carefully curated collection of exceptional pre-war automobiles for over thirty years. During that period, the car was cherished as a characterful and historically significant example.Today, the car still bears clear traces of that earlier restoration period. What makes this Rabassada particularly special is its distinct character. The compact chassis, the lightweight body, and the relatively powerful four-cylinder engine combine to create a car with a distinctly sporty temperament. It is a type of automobile that immediately transports you back to the pioneering years of European motorsport, when manufacturers still tested their technology directly on mountain roads and hill climbs.Within the world of Hispano-Suiza, such models are extremely rare. Most enthusiasts know the brand primarily for the large luxury cars of the 1930s, but it is precisely these early sports models that reveal a different side of the brand.This 1922 Hispano-Suiza 16 HP Rabassada is therefore a particularly interesting collector’s item for enthusiasts of early European automobiles. The combination of its Barcelona origins, the Rabassada background, and its long history within several well-known collections makes this a car with a very unique place within the Hispano-Suiza world.You are warmly invited to come view this exceptional Hispano-Suiza at Gallery Aaldering in Brummen. Do you live outside the Netherlands? No problem. We have extensive experience with global sales and export. Since 1975, Gallery Aaldering has been a family business with a deep passion for exceptional and classic automobiles.
