Damián Mateu is the first Spanish to be inducted into the FIVA Hall of Fame, which recognises his important contribution to the history of motor racing as manager of Hispano-Suiza.
On 27 May, FIVA Vice-President Peter Edqvist presented the Suqué Mateu family with the Trophy which accredits their ancestor, Damián Mateu, as one of the 14 Heroes of Automotive History 2021, the first Spaniard, and so far the only one, to receive this award which signifies his inclusion in the International Vintage Car Federation’s Hall of Fame.
The event took place in an emotional ceremony held at the historic Pereleda Castle, acquired and restored in 1923 by Damián Mateu. The event was attended by Peter Edqvist, Vice President of FIVA, Raúl Aranda, President of FEVA and Cristina Soler, President of the FEVA Communication Commission. On behalf of the family, Miguel Suqué, current President of Hispano-Suiza, received the trophy.
During the same ceremony, tribute was also paid to the figure of Emilio Polo, eminent historian of Spanish motor racing. Emilio Polo García (1944-2020) has been the most eminent historian of the brand, devoting more than thirty years to its study, the result of which were the four voluminous books he published, as well as hundreds of articles in specialised magazines.
The event also saw the inauguration of an exhibition dedicated to Hispano-Suiza, the great brand of which the protagonist of the day, Damián Mateu, was the founder and main supporter, and which has been relaunched in 2019 with two latest-generation electric hypercars. The Hispano Suiza Hall will close the usual route of the Peralada Museum, with the recreation of historical spaces where the legend of the brand was forged, the exhibition of the Hispano Suiza K6 and a collection of objects and unique pieces.
The honoree Damián Mateu y Bisa (1864-1935) was the founder and president of Hispano-Suiza, and the financial mind behind the most outstanding Spanish automobile and aeronautical company, as well as one of the most outstanding cultural patrons of his time.
In addition to the well-deserved Hall of Fame Award in memory of Damián Mateu, co-founder of Hispano-Suiza, the FIVA Senior Vice President also carried a small gift from Sweden. That gift came with a short story which he told the people gathered for the ceremony. The story goes like this.
In about 1910 there was on the west coast in Gothenburg, the second largest city in Sweden, a young man in his twenties, doing his best to spend his father´s money. When his father suddenly died, he inherited the family business and thus became a very rich man. To hide his young age, he decided to grow a substantial beard. Also, he decided to be a family man, he married and subsequently raised five children.
His name was Gösta Fraenckel, born 1885, died 1980 at the age of 95.
In addition to the well-deserved Hall of Fame Award in memory of Damián Mateu, co-founder of Hispano-Suiza, I also had with me a small gift from Sweden. That gift came with a short story which I told the people gathered for the ceremony. The story goes like this.
In about 1910 there was on the west coast in Gothenburg, the second largest city in Sweden, a young man in his twenties, doing his best to spend his father´s money. When his father suddenly died, he inherited the family business and thus became a very rich man. To hide his young age, he decided to grow a substantial beard. Also, he decided to be a family man, he married and subsequently raised five children.
His name was Gösta Fraenckel, born 1885, died 1980 at the age of 95.
Now, let´s go to the mid 1920´ies. Gösta Fraenckel was now an established businessman but also a prominent figure in the local motor club. He thought that his fellow club members were only pottering slowly around in their model T Fords and for short travels only. “Modern cars”, he is reputed to have said, “are made to drive fast, very fast, and for long distances, very long distances. And I intend to prove it”.
So he promptly bought a Hispano-Suiza, the very car that Damián Mateu had been instrumental in starting manufacturing. Gösta Fraenckel also bought a (then) modern film camera, one with a clockwork mechanism giving constant speed filming, just like moviemakers had started using (as opposed to the more common hand cranked type where the speed was dependant on how fast the mechanism was turned). In the spring of 1926, Gösta started a “Tour of Europe”, with his Hispano and with his camera to prove his progress. He visited many European countries, including Spain, in fact going to Barcelona and driving the main road very near Peralada where the Hall of Fame trophy was presented 96 years later. This very film, digitized to modern media, was presented to the Mateu family, indicating that the cars made by Hispano Suiza was very fast, very durable and very much suited to fast long-distance driving. The film is unique in that Gösta Fraenckel concentrated on showing the normal life he happened to see along his trip, for example street scenes, farmers etc. The street scenes of Barcelona thus includes trams and cars but also a flower shop selling fresh flowers. When watching this 34 minutes film today, we should bear in mind that it´s a silent film, in black and white of course, and nearly a 100 years old. The captions are in Swedish but mainly concerns cities visited, so should be of little consequence. Enjoy!