Documenting the Restoration of a 1927 Hispano-Suiza H6C (Alwar 3)

The 1927 Hispano-Suiza H6C, better known as Alwar 3, is one of only 264 cars ever built. It was originally owned by Maharaja Jai Singh of Alwar and later became part of the famous Pranlal Bhogilal Collection at Dastan Autoworld Museum.

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In July 2025, the car was brought to Supercar Garage, Mumbai, for a complete restoration to be done in 3 months before being shipped to Paris for the 2026 Salon Rétromobile. The aim was to save as much of the original car as possible while bringing it back to its original 1927 ivory-and-blue colour.

I was invited by Mr. Gautam Sen to photograph and document this entire journey, and I was excited to be a part of it. I enjoy telling stories through my photographs, and this project gave me the chance to capture not just the car, but also the people, the craftsmanship, and the hard work that went into bringing it back to life.

The Restoration Process

The restoration took around 100 days, with every part of the car being carefully restored before it was put back together.

1. Complete Disassembly

When the car arrived at Supercar Garage, it was completely taken apart. The doors, interior, body panels, engine, chassis, and all the mechanical parts were carefully removed. The car was in poor condition and needed a full restoration.

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2. Separating Every Component

The body, chassis, engine, and mechanical parts were separated so that each section could be restored individually. Every stage required different skills, with the mechanics, carpenters, painters, and upholstery team all working together to bring the car back to life.

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3. Chassis & Wood Work

Work began on the wooden framework while, at the same time, the chassis was sandblasted and repainted in black.

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4. Engine Restoration

The engine was restored alongside the bodywork, with attention given to every small detail. Once it was ready, it was fitted back onto the restored chassis.

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5. Wooden Framework & Assembly

The wooden framework, especially the interior structure, took a lot of time to complete. Once it was finished, the entire body was mounted back onto the chassis. The doors were fitted and adjusted until everything lined up perfectly. This completed the wooden structure.

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6. Firewall & Panel Preparation

The firewall was fitted, followed by the side body panels, which were temporarily installed to check the alignment. Once everything was correct, the panels were removed again for epoxy primer before the next stage.

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7. Paint & Final Assembly

After careful research, the car was painted in its original 1927 ivory-and-blue colour. The body, interior, engine, and all the finishing details were then reassembled, ready for its journey to the 2026 Salon Rétromobile in Paris.

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Watching this car come back to life was an incredible experience. From a worn-out vintage car to a beautifully restored Hispano-Suiza ready for one of the world's biggest classic car shows, every stage had its own story.

For me, this project wasn't just about photographing a car. It was about documenting the people behind the restoration, their skill, patience, and attention to detail. I hope these images give you a glimpse into that journey and show what it really takes to bring a piece of automotive history back to life.

I hope you enjoy the photographs as much as I enjoyed making them.

Photographer : Vrutika Doshi Photography

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