In the annals of the pioneer years of motoring in Spain, few names rank higher than that of this car's first owner, Don Francisco Serramalera Abadal – familiarly known as Paco Abadal – who was a passionate enthusiast for all kinds of mechanised transport.

Born in 1875, in the closing years of the 19th century Abadal won fame as an intrepid cycle racer, competing in events organised by the Sociedad de Velocipedistas de Cataluña and the Sportsmen Club de Barcelona.

With the introduction of motor vehicles to Spain at the beginning of the 20th Century, he bought and raced a 1.75-hp Clément tricycle.

In 1902 Paco Abadal opened the Auto-Garaje Central at 343 Calle Consejo de Ciento in Barcelona, selling cars, motorbikes, cycles and accessories.

He proudly boasted of its "modern machinery powered by electricity for every kind of repair for automobiles and bicycles".

He soon numbered among his clients Spain's youthful King Alfonso XIII, to whom in April 1905 he introduced the new Hispano-...