No Surfboards On This Woody.... [PIC]

This 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C Tulip Wood Torpedo was commissioned by the aperitif scion, ex-fighter pilot and race car enthusiast Andre Dubonnet. Throughout the 20s and 30s Dubonnet looked to light weight and aerodynamics to supplement horsepower. Beginning with Spanish-Swiss Hispano-Suiza H6C 'Boulogne chassis which was lower than standard and had a lowered radiator. He took it to Nieuport-Astra in France that had built the famous WWl fighter that he had flown. The master woodworkers built the body from light weight North American tulip wood that has tight straight grain, high oil content and can be polished to a luster. He entered the car in the 1924 Targa Florio in Sicily and the Coppa Florio finishing 6th and 5th, despite being the largest car in those races. 'Til today, Tulip Wood Torpedo has bounced from collectors to museum and often shown. It's now in private hands still with all the original wood with some repairs due to war time shrapnel damage. Despite the overscale banding and laser straight grain, this older Franklin Mint model appears to be made from real tulip wood and really captures the essence of the 1:1.