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1948 Talbot-Lago T-26 Grand Sport Cabriolet

  • Coachwork by Franay
  • Chassis Number: 110121
One of the early postwar cars noted for its speed was the Talbot Lago T26 Grand Sport. It was built for either racing or luxury and benefited directly from Talbot's successful T26 Grand Prix car. As such, it was expensive and rare, and coachbuilt examples are highly collectible.

Three Grand sport chassis were clothed by the Parisian coachbuilder Franay, two coupes, and this cabriolet (chassis number 110121), which also features an interior by Hermes. It was shown at all the best concours in Europe and won several industry and design awards. Many stars, including Marlene Dietrich and Christian Dior, were linked to this car.

This car was first shown at the Paris Salon in October of 1949, where it was awarded the 1er Grand Prix. It was first white and carried its first grille treatment at the show. It had fitted luggage and a luxurious interior courtesy of Hermes, with bright red leather with white piping.

It was shown at the Concours d'Enghien in 1950, where it won the 1er Grand Prix d'Honneur. In the winter of that year, it was back with Franay, where it was repainted black and given a new grille with a simpler design.

In January of 1951, it was shown on the Talbot stand at the Brussels Auto Show and again in the Concours de la Grande Cascade in the Bois de Boulogne that summer.

The first owner acquired the car after the car had performed for two years on the show and concours circuit. The car was brought back to Franay a year later to have its grille updated in the style of the Ferrari 212 Inter, chassis 0177 E. Shortly after its completion, it was shown again at the June 1952 Concours d'Enghien. Its final appearance in period was on the Franay stand at the 1953 Paris Salon, where it was sold to a butcher from Versailles.

In the spring of 1960, the Grand Sport was bought for $800 from a M. Barone, who operated a Talbot garage, by Jim Bandy, an American military officer stationed in France.

In 1963, the car was brought with Mr. Bandy to Baltimore, Maryland. A few years later, it was sold to Tom Owens of Grafton, West Virginia, who also owned a Grand Sport Saoutchik coupé, chassis 110101. Mr. Owens performed an engine swap on the two cars, taking the engine from 110121, putting it in 110101, and vice versa.

At some point in the 1970s, the car was acquired from Mr. Owens by David Uihlein of Milwaukee. In 1992, it was advertised for sale in Hemmings Motor News. By this point, the car was partially dismantled. The car was purchased by Austrian restorer Egon Zweimüller. A few years later, Mr. Zweimüller began a decade-long mechanical and cosmetic restoration. The work was completed in 2010.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2017

2017 RM Sothebys : Villa Erba

Pre-Auction Estimates :
€1,200,000-€1,500,000 
Sale Price :
USD $1,252,240 (€ 1,120,000.00)

1948 Talbot-Lago T-26 Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the Talbot-Lago T-26

(Data based on Model Year 1948 sales)
1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Coupé 'Chambas'
Chassis#: 110105
Sold for USD$2,385,365
  2023 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris
1948 Talbot-Lago T-26 image  1948 Talbot-Lago T-26 image  
1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Record Sport Cabriolet Décapotable
Chassis#: 3179
Sold for USD$1,875,000
  2021 Bonhams : Quail Lodge
 
1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Record Cabriolet d'Usine
Chassis#: 101016
Sold for USD$165,118
  2019 RM Sothebys : Essen
 
1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Record Sport Coupe de Ville
Chassis#: 100238
Sold for USD$962,000
  2018 Bonhams : Quail Lodge
1948 Talbot-Lago T-26 image  1948 Talbot-Lago T-26 image  
1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Cabriolet by Franay
Chassis#: 110121
Sold for USD$1,252,240
  2017 RM Sothebys : Villa Erba
1948 Talbot-Lago T-26 image  1948 Talbot-Lago T-26 image  
1947 Talbot-Lago T26 Record Cabriolet d'Usine
Chassis#: 100064
Sold for USD$352,000
  2017 RM Auctions : Amelia Island
1948 Talbot-Lago T-26 image  1948 Talbot-Lago T-26 image  
1948 Talbot Lago T26 coach 'surprofilé'
Chassis#: 102008
Sold for USD$97,759
  2015 Rétromobile by Artcurial Motorcars
 
1948 Talbot Lago T26 Record Cabriolet par Saoutchik
Chassis#: 100272
Sold for USD$848,600
  2015 Rétromobile by Artcurial Motorcars
 
1948 TALBOT-LAGO T26 GRAND SPORT COUPE
Chassis#: 110106
Sold for USD$1,485,000
  2014 Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction
1948 Talbot-Lago T-26 image  1948 Talbot-Lago T-26 image  
1948 Talbot T26 Lago Record berline
Sold for USD$85,642
  2012 Artcurial Motorcars at Rétromobile
 
1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Record Cabriolet
Chassis#: 100449
Sold for USD$143,000
  2011 The Scottsdale Auction - Gooding & Company
1948 Talbot-Lago T-26 image  1948 Talbot-Lago T-26 image  
1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Record Cabriolet
Chassis#: 101016
Sold for USD$159,500
  2005 The Monterey Sports and Classic Car Auction
 
1948 Talbot-Lago T26C Grand Prix
Sold for USD$594,000
  2004 Vintage Motor Cars in Arizona
 
1948 TALBOT-LAGO 4 PASSENGER CABRIOLET
Sold for USD$85,250
  2001 Barrett-Jackson - Scottsdale 2001
 

Talbot-Lago T-26s That Failed To Sell At Auction

1948 Talbot-Lago T-26's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Record Three-Position Cabriolet Coachwork by Antem1010012024 Worldwide Auctioneers : Scottsdale   
1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Record Sport Coupe de Ville by Saoutchik1002382021 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island Auction $600,000$700,000
1948 TALBOT-LAGO T26 RECORD CABRIOLET BY GRABER1003512015 Keno Brothers : NY Auto$250,000$295,000$650,000
1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Cabriolet in the style of Saoutchik1101102015 RM Sotheby's : Monterey $1,700,000$2,100,000
1948 TALBOT LAGO 2008 Silver Auction Bellevue$145,000  
1948 TALBOT LAGO T 26 2008 Silver Auction Arizona in January$150,000  
1948 TALBOT - LAGO T26 DROPHEAD1030272007 Silver Auction Seattle$21,000  
1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Drophead Coupe 2007 Vintage Motor Cars in Arizona$130,000$175,000$225,000
1948 TALBOT-LAGO T26 DUBOS CABRIOLET 2006 Silver Auction Portland$22,000  

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1948 Talbot-Lago T-26

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