1950 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport news, pictures, and information

View more photos
Coupe
Coachwork: Saoutchik
Chassis Num: 110151

This 1950 Talbot-Lago Grand Sport T26 Coupe is one of just 36 Grand Sport's constructed by Talbot-Lago between 1947 through 1953. It has coachwork by the flamboyant coachbuilder, Jacques Saoutchik of Neuilly-sur-Seine. Saoutchik was born in the Ukraine in 1880 and arrived in Paris in the early 1900s. During his younger years, he worked as a cabinet maker and later moved into the craft of automobile making. His first motor bodies were on display in 1905. Many of the bodies he created featured graceful flowing contours who created unique designs that shared little resemblance to other vehicles on the road. His designs were aggressive, bold, and daring. Some featured removable windshields, parallel opening doors on pantograph linkages, and an overstated use of chrome detail.

This T26 GS is a combination of pre- and post-War influences. The teardrop style was popular during the pre-war era and was created as a defiance of wind, giving the vehicle the illusion of motion even at a standstill. Aerodynamic principles were carried throughout the vehicle. The pontoon style of this vehicle is reminiscent of the post-War era. This vehicle is mostly engine, as the engine bay is about 50% of the vehicle and the steering wheel tub marks the midpoint of the body's length. The car rests gracefully on its short 104-inch wheelbase. The engine is a 4.5-liter unit derived from the Grand Prix power of the pre-War era.

The cars first owner was Monsieur Cayala who took ownership on October 17th of 1950. It was later sold to a German and then to Maurice Harloux of Belgium. The car remained in his possession until it was purchased by Paul Myers. Later, it became part of the Rosso Bianco Collection.

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 $350,000 - $400,000. Compared to some of the Saoutchik designs of this era, this car is modest. There is only slight use of chrome and its lines are fairly traditional. Other designs of this time that were very flamboyant were the Delahaye 175 MS and Cadillac Series 62 bodies created by Saoutchik.

At auction, this car found a new owner, and sold for $348,000.

View more photos
Coupe
Coachwork: Saoutchik
Chassis Num: 110151

At the 1950 LeMans 24 Hour race, a pair of Talbot-Lago T26 SC racers took first and second place. Adding to their accomplishments and legacy were victories in Formula 1 Grand Prix racer. The Grand Prix road cars were basically a widened and lengthened version of these dominate racing machines. They claimed the worlds fastest production chassis with a top speed of 125 mph.

The Talbot-Lago GS was offered in two wheelbase lengths, 104 and 110 inches. With elegant and luxurious coachwork created by Saoutchik and Figoni and Falaschi, these cars demanded top dollar and were affordable by only the prominent in society.

From 1947 through 1953 only 36 Grand Sport Talbot-Lagos were created. This example has coachwork by Jacques Saoutchik of Neuilly-sur-Seine, on the west side of Paris. Born Iakov Saoutchik in the Ukraine in 1880, he moved to Paris in the early 1900s. His trade was as a cabinet-maker but he quickly moved into the coach building craft with his first motor bodies finished in 1905.

The Saoutchik Firm would continue to offer bodies in the post War era, but by this time it had become very difficult. The industry as a whole was suffering due to the switch to unibody construction with most manufacturers creating the bodies in-house. There were fewer and fewer suitable chassis in which these artisans were able to practice their craft. In 1952 Saoutchik's son Pierre took over the responsibilities of the company and for its designs. It was not long before fate brought an end to the company.

This vehicle features the pontoon style with the tapered teardrop style with a hood that is virtually longer than the rest of the body. This example rests on a short 104-inch wheelbase and is powered by a hemispherical head twin cam six-cylinder engine with seven main bearings and produces nearly 200 horsepower. There is a Wilson preselector gearbox and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.

This vehicle was brought to the 2007 Monterey Sports & Classic Car Auction presented by RM Auctions, where it had an estimated value of $575,000 - $700,000. As the gavel fell the lot had been sold for $535,000.

Almost all of the T26 Grand Sport automobiles received custom coachwork from various coachbuilders. Many were used to display their artistic creations at Motor Shows while others sat atop shortened chassis and used for sporting events.

Anthony Lago had taken over control of the Talbot factory in Suresnes after the merger with Sunbeam and Darracq had collapsed in 1936. By 1937 he had introduced a new line of vehicles, two of which were entered in the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans. He continued his racing endeavors by moving to single-seat racers and by 1939 a purpose-built Grand Prix car had been completed. The onset of World War II slowed the racing endeavors but after the war, and with the assistance of Carlo Marchetti, an overall win at Le Mans was achieved.

Marchetti and Lago created a 4.5-liter version of the six-cylinder engine, and used it in the T26 Record and T26 Grand Sport cars. The 4.5-liter displacement size was selected because it meant requirements for Grand Prix competition. A 1.5-liter displacement size limit was placed on vehicles that were aided by superchargers.

The 4.5-liter engine produced 165 horsepower, which made it inadequate in comparison to the competition, which was producing over 300 horsepower from their engines. The engine would require more tuning if it were to compete in Grand Prix Competition. Marchetti and Lago began work on a revised head for the engine. The new design had two lateral camshafts partway up the block, and shortened pushrods to operate the twelve valves. The modifications improved the engines output to 240 horsepower. Further improvements pushed that figure to around 260 and in range of its competition.

In 1948, the Talbot Lago T26C made its racing debut at the Monaco Grand Prix. The car was fitted with large drum brakes, a Wilson Pre-Selector four-speed gearbox, and a conventional box-section chassis. Shortly after the race began, it became clear that the Talbot Lago was no-match for the Maserati's and their two-stage supercharged 4CLTs. The main advantage that the T26C employed was their ability to run the entire race without refueling or changing tires. The Maserati cars pitted half-way through the race, which gave the Talbot-Lago T26Cs a chance to regain some ground. As the checkered flag fell, Nino Farina and his Maserati were in the lead followed closely by a T26C driven by Louis Chiron.

The Talbot-Lago T26C competition career continued during the 1949 season. Their superior fuel mileage and reliability gained them two major Grand Prix victories. In 1950, the T26C's did well in non-championship competition.

For the 1950 running of the 24 Hours of LeMans, Anthony Lago entered a T26C for competition. The LeMans race is a grueling race that tests driver, car, and team for 24 hours of competition. Just finishing the race is a victory, itself. Anthony was convinced that the T26C's proven reliability would reward them with a strong finish. The car was slightly modified for the race to comply with regulations; it was given lights, fenders, and a wider body to allow for a driver and co-driver.

At the 1950 24 Hours of LeMans, the T26C was driven by Louis Rosier and his son Jean-Louis Rosier. At the end of the race, the T26C had captured its most important victory of its career.

The T26 road-going cars were powered by a six-cylinder, DOHC Cam engine with triple carburetors that produced nearly 200 horsepower. There was a four-speed Wilson Preselector gearbox, four-wheel drum brakes and a live-axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs rear suspension. This setup provided the necessary power, performance, and comfort required by cars of this caliber.

The Talbot-Lago T26 models were exquisite creations outfitted with coach work provided by some of the world's greatest coachbuilders. Never produced in large numbers, these T26 models are extremely rare and exclusive by today's standards. In total there were around 750 examples of the T26 constructed, with only 23 being the T26C version. There were about 30 examples of the T26 GS (Grand Sport) constructed with eight built atop the short chassis of 2.65M. This was the same chassis used for the Grand Prix cars.

For more information and related vehicles, click here

Vehicle Spotlight