1927 Hispano-Suiza H6C A Maharaja Car at Rétromobile
A true Maharaja’s automobile is what visitors to Rétromobile will encounter at the Club Hispano-Suiza stand K59, Hall 7.1C. (H).
The story of this 1927 Hispano-Suiza H6C is exceptional. It once formed part of the distinguished fleet of Maharaja Jai Singh of Alwar, a former princely state in Rajasthan, south of Delhi. A committed Francophile with a flamboyant, cultured, and extravagant personality, the Maharaja accorded himself near-divine status and freely used public funds for personal indulgence, excesses that ultimately led British administrators to exile him in the early 1930s. He chose Paris as his place of settlement.
Before this dramatic downfall, Maharaja Jai Singh lived in great opulence and assembled an extraordinary collection of prestigious automobiles, including several Hispano-Suizas – among the most advanced and luxurious cars of their time. Notably, his collection included two examples of the H6C in extra-long-wheelbase configuration, the only two ever made with these specifications. Of particular significance is the fact that Hispano-Suiza produced only 264 H6Cs between 1924 and 1936, each powered by the formidable 7982cc six-cylinder engine delivering 160 bhp, with all of them clothed by the world’s finest coachbuilders.
Remarkably, both of the Maharaja’s H6Cs survive today: one remains in Alwar, while the other resides at the Dastan Autoworld Museum in Ahmedabad, north of Mumbai. It is the latter car that concerns us here. Built in 1927 (chassis number 11760), it carries a chauffeur-driven coupé body by the renowned British coachbuilder H. J. Mulliner. Registered as Alwar 3, the car may have served as a state vehicle as well as a hunting car, as suggested by period accessories such as a gun case mounted on the running boards and a Grebel spotlight.
Reflecting the Maharaja’s strict vegetarianism, the interior was upholstered in silk rather than the customary leather. In the late 1970s, the car was seized just before it was due to be illegally exported from India. It was subsequently acquired by India’s foremost collector, Pranlal Bhogilal (1937-2011), who later incorporated it into the museum (Dastan Autoworld Museum) he established in Ahmedabad.
The Renaissance
Following Pranlal Bhogilal’s passing, his family resolved in 2011 to restore some of the museum’s most important automobiles. His daughter and son-in-law, Chamundeshwari and Brijesh Chinai, took on the responsibility for this ambitious undertaking. With guidance from noted historian Gautam Sen, Chinai travelled to Paris in 2025 for the Rétromobile show, where they sought expert advice on the car’s restoration.
There, they connected with veteran automotive journalist Serge Cordey, who promptly introduced them to Modeste Tréhin, president of the Club des Anciennes Automobiles Hispano-Suiza. Tréhin’s response was immediate and enthusiastic: “You need help restoring your H6C? No problem!” He then contacted his trusted friend and mechanic, Gilles Bonvin, to see if he would be willing to travel to Ahmedabad to assess the car and help return it to running condition.
Barely a month later, Gilles Bonvin arrived in Ahmedabad to work with Brijesh Chinai’s team, led by Darayush Naterwalla. In the span of just one week, the long-dormant Hispano-Suiza was revived. The sleeping beauty awoke, its engine firing once more, and the majestic H6C roared back to life.
But its overall condition still left something to be desired, and after this encouraging first step, Brijesh Chinai decided in July to restore it to its original splendour with a more thorough restoration. The goal: to exhibit the car at Rétromobile in 2026.
However, the car’s overall condition still left much to be desired, and following this promising first step, Brijesh Chinai resolved in July to undertake a comprehensive restoration to return it to its original splendour. The objective was clear: to present the car at Rétromobile in 2026.
With the support of Supercar Garage in Mumbai, led by Irfan Moghul, this exceptionally ambitious project was completed within a remarkably short timeframe of just a 100 days, while carefully preserving as many original components as possible.
The mechanical systems, chassis, bodywork, and interior were all fully restored, and on November 15, 2025, the 1927 Hispano-Suiza H6C was shipped aboard a vessel bound for Le Havre, arriving in early January. From there, it was sent to Corneliu Nastase’s Rétro Roadster workshop for final detailing ahead of its public debut at Rétromobile.
Thus, after an extraordinary journey spanning continents and decades, this remarkable 1927 Hispano-Suiza H6C, originally purchased new by Maharaja Jai Singh, returns to its country of origin to be displayed on the marque’s club stand at Rétromobile, Porte de Versailles, from January 28 to February 1.
For more images please email : dastanautoworld@gmail.com