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1948 Talbot-Lago T-26 Grand Sport Coupe

  • Coachwork by Oblin
  • Chassis Number: 110106
  • Engine Number: 103
The post-War era Talbot T26 Grand Sport was a direct descendant of the pre-war T150SS road car, a few of which had received the teardrop coupe body by Figoni et Falaschi. Anthony Lago conceived the Grand Sport strictly as a two-seater, and the layout and most of the mechanical details from the GP cars were retained. Lago mounted the engine, gearbox, and suspension components on the short 265-centimeter pre-war Grand Prix chassis rails with a few modifications. The front suspension was independent with a transverse leaf spring, and there was a short transaxle between the engine and the gearbox, followed by a short driveshaft. The result was the SWB Grand Sport chassis which weighed just 850 kg compared to the 1,280 kg of the new T26 Record family car chassis.

Anthony Lago and chief engineer Carlo Marchetti developed the free-revving Type 26 4486cc 6-cylinder engine during the War and first showed it at the Paris Salon in 1946. The twin camshaft in the upper part of the block operated large overhead valves inclined at an efficient 90 degrees via short pushrods and rockers on either side of the head, giving it the appearance of a DOHC design. With the help of two carburetors, an impressive 170 bhp was produced when mounted in a T26 Record chassis. The engine found in the Grand Sport models was further improved. Like the GP engines, the cylinders were sleeved, the cylinder head was in aluminum, compression was raised, and three Zenith Stromberg carburetors with no air filters were fitted. Grand Sport power was conservatively rated at 190bhp. This made the T26 GS one of the most powerful passenger car motors in the world at the time. The four-speed Wilson pre-selector gearbox made it possible to shift the Grand Sport much faster than conventional gearboxes of the period.

This new chassis was designed for the sporting and affluent clientele, who were seeking a fast daily driver that would not be averse to entering various rally and racing events as privateers, with the occasional appearance at a Concours d'Elegance.

In total, just 28 chassis of the Talbot-Lago Grand Sport were built on the short 265-centimeter wheelbase.

This particular example is the second chassis signed off by the factory on August 3, 1948. It was exported to the Anciens Etablissements J. Guerret, the Talbot concessionary in Belgium. Guerret sold the chassis to the English racing driver Goldie Gardner, who was living in Brussels at the time. Gardner commissioned a one-off fastback coupe body by Van den Plas. The result was a cutting-edge slab-sided pontoon shape, which failed rather miserably from an aesthetic point of view. The completed car was first shown at the Brussels Motor Show in January 1949.

Gardner kept 110106 for about a year and a half. In 1950, Claude Nias, a Belgian privateer, bought the car and raced it twice with a Mr. Brancart in the Liège-Rome-Liège rally. He placed 20th in 1951 and 12th in 1952.

Chassis 110106 was too heavy to be competitive. So in 1952, Nias decided to have the car re-bodied by Martial Oblin in Brussels in its current coupe-style coachwork. Martial Oblin began bodies in the late 1940s, developing a number of modern construction techniques for light competition bodies. For chassis 110106, Oblin gave it a technically advanced 'spiderweb' which consisted of thin steel tubes welded into a structure, which was able to absorb a considerable impact. The body was completed in a mere six weeks. The 'Superleggera'-type body weighed just 145 kg, including lights, glass, and seats. By moving the greenhouse towards the rear, the resulting body design was a fastback silhouette with a long sleek hood.

The completed chassis-body ensemble was displayed at the 1953 Brussels show. Also that year, Nias raced 110106 with its new Oblin body in the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. He started from pole position and was running in fourth place in the 8th hour when a problem with the rear axle forced him to retire prematurely. He also participated in the Liège-Rome-Liège rally in 1953, but was again forced to retire early after going off the road on a downhill corner.

In 1957, Nias sold the car to a Mr. Vanderkele in Brussels. The car remained in Venderkele's care for the next 19 years, but there is no record of what he did with it during his long tenure.

François d'Huart bought the car from Mr. Vanderkele in 1976. d'Huart rallied the car many times, including participating in the January 1987 Montecarlo-Sestriere rally. In 1999, the car was sold via Christophe Pund of the Galerie des Damiers, who exhibited the car at Rétromobile. The next owner, who retains the car today, subsequently raced and rallied 110106 extensively.

In 2002, the car was involved in an accident at Spa-Francorchamps. The car rolled onto its roof, and Martial Oblin's 50-year-old web of steel tubes did a remarkable job of absorbing the energy. After the accident, 110106 was sent to Rob Jolley Coachbuilding in the UK for a sympathetic restoration.

Currently, the car is powered by a 4482cc overhead valve inline-6 cylinder engine fitted with 3 Zenith Stromberg carburetors. The 190 horsepower produced is sent to the rear wheels via a 4-speed Pre-Selector gearbox. At all four corners are drum brakes.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2014

2014 Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction

Sale Price :
USD $1,485,000

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 vehicle thumbnail image  

1948 Talbot-Lago T-26

Additional valuation insight and sales data
History
Specifications
Image gallery
Other Talbot-Lago T-26 model years

1948 Talbot-Lago T-26 Vehicle Profiles

1948 Talbot-Lago T-26 vehicle information
Grand Sport Coupe
Coachwork: Saoutchik
Chassis #: 110114
1948 Talbot-Lago T-26 vehicle information
Coupe
Coachwork: Franay
Chassis #: 110113
1948 Talbot-Lago T-26 vehicle information
Record Sport Coupe de Ville
Coachwork: Saoutchik
Chassis #: 100238
Engine #: 26347
1948 Talbot-Lago T-26 vehicle information
Grand Sport Fastback Coupe
Coachwork: Figoni
Chassis #: 110103
1948 Talbot-Lago T-26 vehicle information
Grand Sport Coupe
Coachwork: Contamin
Chassis #: 110105
1948 Talbot-Lago T-26 vehicle information
Grand Sport Coupe
Coachwork: Oblin
Chassis #: 110106
Engine #: 103
1948 Talbot-Lago T-26 vehicle information
Grand Sport Cabriolet
Coachwork: Franay
Chassis #: 110121
1948 Talbot-Lago T-26 vehicle information
Grand Sport Coupe
Coachwork: Saoutchik
1948 Talbot-Lago T-26 vehicle information
Grand Sport Cabriolet
Coachwork: Saoutchik
Chassis #: 110110
Engine #: 108