1947 Talbot-Lago T26 Record Cabriolet
The Talbot Lago-Record Type T26 was a large, six-cylinder executive car launched by the French Talbot company in 1946. In the context of the company’s protracted financial collapse, the last T26s were probably those produced during 1953.
The history of Talbot-Lago is a very interesting one for several reasons, not only because this marque amply deserves its place next to those other mythical makes, but also because it is such a typical alignment of automotive alliances, as often in the early days of motoring. The early collaborations with Clément-Bayard and Alexandre Darracq and the separate lives that the Talbot marque has lived on both sides of the channel result in an almost inextricable tangle that further reinforces the myth.
The Talbot Lago Record T26 was a large car with a fiscal horsepower of 26 CV and a claimed actual power output of 170hp, delivered to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual gear box, with the option at extra cost of a Wilson pre-selector gear box, and supporting a claimed top speed of 170 km/h (105 mph).
Almost all the Talbots sold during the late 1940s came with Talbot bodies, constructed in the manufacturer’s extensive workshops. The T26 Grand Sport (GS) was the exception, however, and cars were delivered only as bare chassis, requiring customers to choose bespoke bodywork from a specialist coachbuilder. The GS was a star turn in a dull world and coachbuilders such as Saoutchik, Franay, Oblin, and Figoni et Falaschi competed to trump Talbot’s own designers with elaborately elegant bodies.
The interior of this 1947 Talbot-Lago T26 Record Cabriolet is done in the classic thirties style. The controls for the Wilson pre-selector gearbox can be seen to the right of the steering column.
The Talbot-Lago factory continued to produce cars up until about 1958 but was under more and more financial stress. Tony Lago eventually accepted an offer from Simca to buy the company and Talbot-Lago was sold to Simca in 1959. It was the end of an era of some of the most desirable motor cars one could hope to find. Sadly, Tony Lago passed away in 1960.
This is a car that leaves a lasting impression. Elegant from every angle, with striking details further reinforcing its beauty, it has to be seen in the flesh to be fully appreciated.
