Hibbard & Darrin
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Coachbuilding, Automotive design |
| Founded | 1923 |
| Founder | Thomas L. Hibbard and Howard "Dutch" Darrin |
| Defunct | 1931 |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
| Products | Custom automobile bodies |
Carrosserie Hibbard et Darrin was a Parisian French coachbuilder located at 12 Rue de Berri, close to the Champs-Élysées. Founded by Americans Hibbard and Darrin, the company specialized in crafting custom bodies for prestigious chassis such as those from Rolls-Royce, Duesenberg, and Minerva.
Hibbard and Dietrich LeBaron
Thomas L. Hibbard (1898-1982) and Raymond H. Dietrich, both American designers, initially crossed paths while working at Brewster. After being dismissed for undertaking freelance projects, they went on to establish LeBaron, a firm named in honor of a family acquaintance. LeBaron's focus was on marketing automobile designs rather than manufacturing the coachwork.
Hibbard et Darrin
In 1923, Hibbard departed from LeBaron and joined forces with designer Howard "Dutch" Darrin (1897-1982) to create Hibbard & Darrin. This enterprise gained recognition for producing avant-garde bodies tailored for Europe’s elite luxury automobile manufacturers. The collaboration concluded in 1931 when Hibbard returned to the United States to contribute to General Motors’ design department.
Fernandez et Darrin
Remaining in France, Darrin formed a partnership with J. Fernandez, an Argentine banker, resulting in the company Fernandez et Darrin. Operating from a workshop in Boulogne-sur-Seine and a showroom on the Champs-Élysées, they maintained an inventory of chassis to offer ready-to-purchase luxury vehicles. Although their output averaged around ten cars monthly, profitability was constrained by production expenses. Among their distinguished commissions were a 1933 Duesenberg convertible crafted for Greta Garbo and a 1935 Hispano-Suiza H6 limousine commissioned by Anthony Gustav de Rothschild. In 1934, their showroom relocated to rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. Their principal customer was Argentine heir Martin Máximo Pablo de Alzaga Unzue, who acquired 26 automobiles from them.
U.S. – "Darrin of Paris"
Returning to America in 1937, Darrin launched Darrin of Paris on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, promoting his work with a French flair. He contributed designs for manufacturers such as Kaiser and Studebaker, including the notable Kaiser Darrin sports car developed alongside Bill Tritt. Although some Studebaker concepts were never produced, they are preserved at the Studebaker National Museum. Subsequently, Darrin and his sons created replica kit cars for commercial sale.