1924 Hispano Suiza “Tulipwood” Torpedo: The Wooden Rocket That Beat the Odds

The 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C Tulipwood Torpedo wasn’t just a car—it was a $9 million wooden rocket. Built from aircraft-grade mahogany by Nieuport-Astra for racer André Dubonnet, this 8.0-liter monster proved that beauty and brute force could share the same chassis. With 195 HP and a 105 mph top speed, it roared through the 1924 Targa Florio while looking like a violin on wheels. In this episode we trace its wild life—from French aperitif fortune to Pebble Beach royalty—and uncover how this wooden fuselage survived bombs, bobsledders, and billionaires. 🪵✨ If you love stories where art meets engineering (and occasionally explodes the bank), hit that 👍 Like and 🔔 Subscribe to keep classic legends alive. Full history & auction link below ⬇️ LINKS RM Sotheby’s auction – 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C “Tulipwood” Torpedo by Nieuport-Astra: https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/mo22/... IMAGE SOURCES This video contains historical and archival photographs from: – Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain, CC0, CC BY, CC BY-SA) All images are used under their respective free licenses. 👉 Full credits with authors & links are available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_... #ClassicCars, #VintageRacing, #AutomotiveHistory, #LuxuryCars, #CarCollectors, #HispanoSuizaH6C, #TulipwoodTorpedo, #1924RaceCar, #WoodenRocket, #DubonnetLegend