Welcome toThe Rothschild Archive'swebsite

Sources for business history: plans of New Court

Sources for art history: Catalogue of the pictures of Alfred de Rothschild 1901

Sources for yachting history: Plans for Nathaniel von Rothschild's yacht Veglia 1905

Sources for natural history: Walter 2nd Lord Rothschild and his zebra carriage: c.1910

Sources for global financial history: Map of lines of the Brazil Railway Company: c.1920

Sources for business history: index cards to bank files

Sources for social history: Rothschild Hospital Paris: 1920s

Sources for business history: detail of a Rothschild bond coupon

Sources for architectural history: Halton House: 1890s

Sources for the history of travel: Lionel de Rothschild's tours of Spain: 1909

Sources for local history: Tring Park: c.1900

Sources for Royal history: shooting party with Edward Prince of Wales: 1893

Sources for political history: Lionel de Rothschild: first Jewish MP: 1858

Sources for sporting history: St Amant winner of the Derby: 1904

Sources for local history: gardeners at Aston Clinton: 1899

Sources for Rothschild family history: Lionel de Rothschild's yacht Rhodora: 1927

Sources for London history: entrance to New Court: 1965

Sources for design history: plans for Lionel de Rothschild's Rolls-Royce: 1930

Sources for business history: Rothschild gold bars produced by the Royal Mint Refinery: 1930s

Sources for business history: letters of August Belmont Rothschild Agent in New York: 1860s

Exhibition - Motoring Rothschilds

8: The Rothschild Hispano-Suizas

Anthony Gustav de Rothschild (1887-1961), had a passion for exotic luxury automobiles. In March of 1934, Anthony ordered a matching set of Hispano-Suizas, a K-6 for formal occasions, the other, a J12 for cruising around town. The two cars were ordered through Hispano-Suiza’s London Agent, J. Smith & Co. Ltd, and were sent to Fernandez & Darrin in Paris to receive the most striking bodies. The cars were finished in identical colors and complimentary styles.

Anthony’s car was a Coupe Chauffeur limousine which was built for the long wheelbase (146 ½”) K6 chassis. The body featured a teardrop–shaped closed passenger compartment whose raked windscreen matched that of the open chauffeur’s compartment. Top speed 88 mph. The K-6 Coupe Chauffeur remained with the Rothschild family until 1984.

On the shorter J12 chassis, a matching teardrop-shaped 4-passenger coupe was built and this was favoured by Anthony’s wife, Yvonne (1899-1977). The J12 was one of the most expensive Hispano-Suiza chassis, featuring a V12 engine similar to the fighter plane engines of the era. It had a top speed of 108 mph. The J-12 coupe was sold by the Rothschild family to industrialist A. J. McAlpine in 1949.

The Rothschild Hispano-Suizas were some of the most expensive cars of the day, costing $40,000 dollars for the pair, equivalent to about £8,000 in 1935 (about £300,000 today). They caused a sensation in London, and were quite unlike anything else to be seen on the roads.