Hispano Suiza by Brandone

Etienne Brandone (1893-1963) started his professional career as a saddle maker. He was born in Nice and, like many other boys at the turn of the 20th century, was fascinated by the emerging phenomenon of the automobile, a fascination that eventually became the foundation for a profession. Brandone learned the coachbuilding trade with Billeter & Cartier at the age of 18. After rising to the position of foreman with Billeter and Cartier, Brandone decided to establish his own operation, in 1923. He set up a shop in Nice, where there were plenty of well-heeled clients willing to pay for automotive exclusivity. And that's precisely what Carrosserie Brandone delivered, specializing in elegant cabriolets. His first car body was made on a Peugeot chassis.

With Brandone's son Pierre (1914-1979), who became a partner in 1930, taking on an increasingly prominent role in the business, almost every car that emerged from the carrosserie was a unique creation, and many claimed ribbons at French Riviera concours d'elegance. Many car bodies were created on the chassis of: Minerva, Citroen 8CV (1934), Rolls-Royce, Delahaye 148 and 8-cyl. Ballot coupe (1932), Hispano-Suiza 32 CV Type KS (1936), Peugeot 601 cabriolet (1936), Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 (1936) and Voisin C 28 cabriolet (1939). All of them won prizes at the Concours d'Elegance at the Côte d'Azur.

After WWII they continued with: Delahaye, Alfa Romeo 1500 cabriolet (1948), Talbot T23 cabriolet, Peugeot 402, Ford Vedette 2-seater Vutotal (1950) and Delahaye 148L. In 1952 Pierre Brandone was with James Young for 9 months and was responsible for an outstanding Bentley sports-saloon.

Carrosserie Etienne Brandone seized operations after Etienne died in 1963.