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1935 Talbot-Lago T120 news, pictures, and information
| | View more photos Drophead Coupe Chassis Num: 85221 Engine Num: 77080 |
France automakers, just like so many other marque's throughout the world, struggled through difficult economical conditions during the early 1930s with few surviving. One of the French survivors was Darracq/Talbot that was purchased by Italian Major Anthony F. 'Tony' Lago in 1934 from the Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq (STD) Company. He already had an association with the STD Company as the owner of the gearbox manufacturer. The STD Company had a strong reputation for performance, superior engineering, and durability - a reputation that Lago would attempt to uphold. The sale included the facilities located in Suresnes, France and the rights to use the Darracq and Talbot names. The cars sold in France were known as Talbots while the UK products were dubbed Darracqs.
Engineer and ex-Fiat employee Walter Becchia was tasked with continuing the legacy and to create a new line of six-cylinder engines. After nearly a year of development, the new Talbot Lago models were introduced for 1935 at the 1934 Paris Auto Salon. The introductions consisted of both old and new products; the old products were made new by receiving minor updates and a name change. There were three chassis lengths available and a trio of new six-cylinder engines. The range of engines consisted of a 2.7-liter 15CV, 3.0-liter 17CV and 4.0-liter 23CV. The T-120 featured the 3-liter unit and the T150 had the 4-liter engine. The 3-liter engine used pushrod actuated overhead valves of tradition design. The 4-liter unit was more advanced, with hemispheric combustion chambers, inclined overhead valves, and three-Zenith carburetors resulting in over 100 horsepower. The larger models were fitted with the Wilson pre-selector gearbox.
In keeping with the racing heritage, competition models would soon follow. Built on shorter chassis and often given cycle fender bodies, the T150C was raced with much success during the 1936 and 1937 season. These were later replaced by the T26 which featured a larger, 4.5-liter engine.
The cars that were shown at the Paris Auto Show featured Figoni designed and patented coachwork. Under agreement, the designs could be used the following year on factory production models. What left the factory would vary slightly from the Figoni-bodied examples; the factory-bodied cars were void of running boards that connected the wings in the front and rear together. The two-tone colors and metallic paints, however, was a Figoni designs and used by the factory. Other changes were made along the way to coincide with modern styles, such as the use of chrome and brightwork.
The Talbot T-120 was produced until 1939. Many were specifically tailored to clients' requests by some of the finest coachbuilders of the era. The six-cylinder engine displaced 3-liters and produced about 90 horsepower. Top speed was achieved at around 80 mph.
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Engineer and ex-Fiat employee Walter Becchia was tasked with continuing the legacy and to create a new line of six-cylinder engines. After nearly a year of development, the new Talbot Lago models were introduced for 1935 at the 1934 Paris Auto Salon. The introductions consisted of both old and new products; the old products were made new by receiving minor updates and a name change. There were three chassis lengths available and a trio of new six-cylinder engines. The range of engines consisted of a 2.7-liter 15CV, 3.0-liter 17CV and 4.0-liter 23CV. The T-120 featured the 3-liter unit and the T150 had the 4-liter engine. The 3-liter engine used pushrod actuated overhead valves of tradition design. The 4-liter unit was more advanced, with hemispheric combustion chambers, inclined overhead valves, and three-Zenith carburetors resulting in over 100 horsepower. The larger models were fitted with the Wilson pre-selector gearbox.
In keeping with the racing heritage, competition models would soon follow. Built on shorter chassis and often given cycle fender bodies, the T150C was raced with much success during the 1936 and 1937 season. These were later replaced by the T26 which featured a larger, 4.5-liter engine.
The cars that were shown at the Paris Auto Show featured Figoni designed and patented coachwork. Under agreement, the designs could be used the following year on factory production models. What left the factory would vary slightly from the Figoni-bodied examples; the factory-bodied cars were void of running boards that connected the wings in the front and rear together. The two-tone colors and metallic paints, however, was a Figoni designs and used by the factory. Other changes were made along the way to coincide with modern styles, such as the use of chrome and brightwork.
The Talbot T-120 was produced until 1939. Many were specifically tailored to clients' requests by some of the finest coachbuilders of the era. The six-cylinder engine displaced 3-liters and produced about 90 horsepower. Top speed was achieved at around 80 mph.
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