Marc Birkigt’s K6 design, which replaced the earlier Ballot/Junior model first saw the light of day in 1934.

Offered to fill the market segment below the exclusive J12 model the K6 featured a new 120 hp straight six motor with overhead pushrod operated valves which followed Rolls Royce practice in the pursuit of silence when in motion.

Depending on the body work which varied in weight and aerodynamic efficiency from one coach builder to the next a K6 could reach a speed over 85 mph.

Following the trend set by the Huispano Suiza H6 the K6 was fitted with four wheel cable operated brakes with servo assistance as licensed to Rolls Royce.

Carrosserie Pourtout is one of a number of coachbuilders who built bodies for clients what ever chassis they bought. The company is probably best known for it’s the revolutionary Eclipse retractable hard top roof and a class winning Le Mans entry, the company ceased operating as a design business in the 1990’s but is still involved in body shop repairs.

It seems most likely that the lines for the coachwork of this 1936 Huispano Suiza K6 Convertible were drawn by former dentist turned designer Georges Paulin who started working for Carrosserie Pourtout in 1933 and remained with the company until he was executed by occupying German forces for his allegiance with the French Resistance and British Intelligence in 1942.

The K6 could be built for owners to drive with a shorter wheel base or for a chauffer to drive with a longer wheel base.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing his photographs which were taken earlier this year at the Marin Sanoma Concours d’Elegance meeting.

Thanks for joining me on this “Dentists Body Art” edition of ‘Gettin a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !