1949 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Four-Seat Cabriolet

The 1949 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport (GS) had a 4482cc engine with triple carburetors that was capable of producing 190 horsepower and carrying the car to a top speed of around 125 mph. This made the T26 GS the world's fastest production chassis, a title it had taken away from its sibling, the Lago-Record. The vehicle was not without its growing pains; the engine produced a large amount of heat. The engine had been derived from its racing counterpart and was intended for high-speed competition. Mounting the engine in road-going cars meant the engine was often driven at slower speeds, where there was less air being circulated through the engine. Overheating was not uncommon. The coachbuilders, Figoni & Falaschi, tried to rectify this problem by giving the cars adequately sized frontal grilles. The shape of the grill was copied for the interior dashboard vent grille.

The Figoni & Falaschi designs of the post-war era were, at times, criticized for being out-of-date. The designs had been used with much success during the 1930s, but by the 1940s, many people were demanding more. The demand for custom coachbuilt cars was still alive in the post-war era, as there were at least 16 coachbuilders who exhibited at the 1948 Paris Salon. The designs by Figoni & Falaschi were still bold and daring, and some brought new styling cues, such as fins and rear wings, which were used on their first post-war body, built atop a Lancia Belna chassis. Within a few years, GM would later do the same on their vehicles.

The post-war years were successful for the Figoni & Falaschi company. The company was now under the direction of Joseph Figoni's son, Claude. It was a miracle that Figoni could still produce automobiles after the war as their Paris factory had been taken over by the Germans and converted to making aircraft components. After the war, Figoni and Falaschi were able to recover their factory and resume work.

This vehicle came equipped with a hydraulic power top, air-conditioning, and a concealed remote control modern radio. These options make it clear that the car's purpose was for touring. To cope with the extra electrical demands of these modern devices, an alternator had been outfitted in the car.

It has been a museum exhibit for many years and has been driven very sparingly during that time. This car was offered for sale at the 2006 Bonhams & Butterfields auction held at the Quail Lodge in Carmel, California, where it was estimated to sell between $300,000 - $400,000. The car did find a buyer, one that was willing to pay with a high bid of $375,500.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2007