24 Heures du Mans

The 24 Heures du Mans is a rare electro-mechanical (EM) pinball machine from Billares Cordoba (Antonio Cordoba) of Barcelona, Spain. Its exact date of production is unknown, but it showcases the small regional pinball manufacturing scene that existed in Spain in the mid-20th century. The game's theme celebrates the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race held annually at the Circuit de la Sarthe in France.

Gameplay-wise, the 24 Heures du Mans offers a single-player EM experience built around two flippers, five pop bumpers, five standup targets, and seven rollover buttons. The machine was designed to operate on a single 1 peseta coin, reflecting the Spanish market it was built for. Note that the long flippers seen on some surviving examples are reportedly not original to the game, as they partially block the outlanes - properly-sized flippers can be seen on Billares Cordoba's related title, 'Millón.'

Details about the designer and original artwork are scarce, but as one of relatively few documented Spanish pinball manufacturers, Billares Cordoba's machines like the 24 Heures du Mans offer a window into a lesser-known corner of pinball history.