1938 Talbot-Lago T23 Cabriolet

The Talbot-Lago name arose from the demise of the Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq collapse that occurred in 1935. Tony Lago, the former general manager of the company, took over the Talbot factory and began building cars using his own surname. He enlisted the help of engineer Walter Brecchia and together they created some alluring and magnificent automobiles. Their vehicles were known for exceptional reliability and high performance, fitted with coachwork by talented craftsmen, such as Figoni & Falaschi. Ovidio Falaschi handled the books while Giuseppe Figoni was the designer, and together they created some of the most streamlined designs of the era.

This particular Sport Cabriolet is an example of Figoni & Falaschi-influenced design work with Talbot-Lago. It is powered by a six-cylinder engine with hemispherical combustion chambers and twin Solex carburetors. The engine is mated to a four-speed pre-selector gearbox and there are heavy-duty four-wheel drum brakes. The use of an actuator pedal replaces the clutch pedal with the Wilson pre-selector gearbox and allows it to engage and disengage the transmission. Gear selection is accomplished by pre-selecting the desired gear with the hand selector, then depressing and releasing the actuator pedal. This eliminates the traditional clutch mechanism.

This car resided in the collection of William Adamson and Richard Gorman for several years before coming into the care of its current caretaker. It was given an original restoration in the early 1990s, and no expense was spared. It has recently been given a recent cosmetic freshening.

The body features long tapered fenders, flush-fitting skirts with chrome accents, a pair of Marchal headlamps, and a rear that features a dramatic design with a raised spine through the center. The back is also devoid of bumpers, there are rear-hinged doors, and there is chrome on the lower sides

The interior has recently been given new hides and a matching tan convertible top. The walnut dashboard holds a set of Jaeger competition gauges and a racing steering wheel.

The four-liter engine gives this T-23 a top speed of 120 mph. The seven-main bearing engine breathes through a pair of tuned Solex carburetors. This engine was recently treated to a full rebuild.

At the 2012 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance it won the Concours International Award for Timeless Elegance. In 2013 it was a class winner at The Elegance in Hershey and then received a Best in Class award at the Misselwood Concours d'Elegance later the same year.

By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2017