As with most shows or events, there’s virtually always a show stopper that drops jaws and races hearts – and for the next Webb’s Classic Car Auction the 1949 Talbot Lago T26 Record Factory Berline is just that!
Automobiles Talbot was once part of a conglomerate of both French and English companies that included Sunbeam, Talbot and Darracq. Builders of mid and upper market luxury cars to compete with the likes of Salmson, Delahaye and Delage, the company was rife with chaos in the upper management, building a number of cars that competed for the same buyers. Rather confusingly, both British and French versions of Talbot cars were offered, not necessarily related to one another! Given the confusion in which S.T.D. Motors, LTD was run, it was hardly surprising when in 1935 the company collapsed.
In the fallout, the brands were split with Sunbeam and British Talbot going to the English Rootes Group, and the French side of Talbot (formerly Darracq) falling into the hands of Italian-born Anthony Lago, who had been acting as General Manager for the firm for the past year. Lago was a gifted engineer and a visionary leader, and in his new position as head of his own automobile company, he set about designing a new, high-performance engine for the current models still in production. The existing bottom-end was reworked and an all-new cylinder head was fitted with overhead valves, hemispherical combustion chambers and centrally mounted spark plugs, not unlike that of a BMW 328. All models had independent front suspension and Wilson pre-select gearboxes were fitted to the highest spec versions.
The new engine and chassis revisions were responsible for the survival of Talbot, with chassis-only “Lago SS” models supplied to many of the great Parisian coachbuilders, with the likes of Figoni et Falaschi and Saoutchik building some of their most iconic designs atop Talbot Lago chassis. After WWII, Tony Lago again revised his six-cylinder engine, increasing capacity to 4.5 litres for the T-26 and adding a re-designed head with twin camshafts and a new seven main bearing block. This powerful and robust engine proved itself a worthy competitor in motorsport, winning the gruelling 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1950. In road trim, the engine was particularly smooth and reliable, making Talbot Lagos a preferred choice for European elite to enjoy on their cross-continental grand tours.
The Talbot Lago Record enjoyed a reputation as arguably the finest French car of its time with a conservative clientele who tended to prefer the standard usine (factory) body from the coachbuilt ones referred to above. All were built in RHD form allegedly, to help the driver keep the car away from the curb. Transmission was as mentioned earlier via the Wilson pre-selector gearbox. These sequential four- speed ‘boxes work by pressing the pedal after the gear is selected using, the slim, spoon- like column mounted lever on the right of the steering wheel. Tony Lago was a former Wilson executive and had an arrangement whereby he collected royalties on each gearbox sold hence his preference towards their use!
From an engine perspective the T26 had two lateral camshafts (and overhead valves) with a power output of 170bhp at 4200 rpm. Bodies for the T26 were hand made in a traditional manner with an ash frame and steel and aluminium panels all colluding to create a heavy car at over 1.5 tonnes. With time marching on French luxury car makers remained stuck in the ‘30s indeed scarcely getting past an artisan stage. Even in their own home market they were not competitive never managing to export in the manner of Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz or Porsche did which ultimately lead to their demise.
The Talbot Lago T26 Record was a great car and one of the final heirs to a long tradition of fine French automobiles.
Working from the faded copy of Details De Construction Carrosserie it seems that the car here for auction at Webb’s was sold new in Amsterdam on 14 December 1948 by Ets Cobar a car dealer who existed there from 1937-1956. Sadly, this is the limit of the car’s European history. Its New Zealand chapter begins with the vehicle being registered at Paraparaumu Beach on 29 December 1956 to a Mrs Gerarda Wilhelmina Frederika Maris-McArthur. It is assumed that this lady was the wife of a Mr. S.A Maris-McArthur a passenger from London to Wellington per the M.V. Rangitata in July 1955. Perhaps an OE romance? With a science qualification no doubt, Mrs McArthur was employed in the laboratory of the City Engineer’s Department, Wellington City Corporation. She must have been well regarded in this environment publishing in 1973 in the “New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research” a paper on the Karori Reservoir. At this juncture the trail goes cold and the next reference on 22 November 1957 is to a Christopher Patrick Treahy of Khandallah who owned the car for about 18 months before moving it on to D.W. Wild Motors of Victoria Street, Christchurch. Thereafter the car passed thru a succession of North Island keepers ranging from Hamilton to Parnell to Huntly to Greenlane to Devonport before being purchased by our Dunedin-based vendor in the late 1970s, and being registered on 21 January 1983.
In March 2020 at the time of lockdown a Webb’s expert flew south to inspect the vehicle and found it to be in a choice state with just a few minor points to be attended to. The engine had been re-built by an expert in Dunedin familiar, with classic cars. New gaskets were fitted. Upon purchase the car’s condition was assessed as “ok” however it was decided by the owner to embark on some restorative work which was conducted by a craftsman in Christchurch with input from him. The vehicle is “matching numbers” with Rudge Whitworth 18’ wheels painted in Rolls-Royce ivory. The leather seats are mostly original. What is effectively two horns are present, viz; country and city versions! A skylight (not a sunroof) and rear blind are in situ. A Talbot badge is on the radiator with Jaeger instruments all present and correct along with some original manuals. Colour is Evergreen Frost which is not original but has its classic car roots in the Aston Martin marque so pretty close!
In total only 750 of these cars were ever produced. As far as Webb’s are concerned there is at least one other but “possibly” four in Australia. At least one of these we know is lacking in originality. In the course of our work at Webb’s we see many fine automobiles some we sell, some we don’t in which case like a banker the premise of confidentiality applies. To market a car of the stature and revered nature such as a Talbot Lago is a highlight afforded few in this business.
The 1949 Talbot Lago T26 Record Factory Berline is up for Auction in NZ, the details are here
