1932 Talbot AV105 Fox and Nicholl Tourer

Clement Talbot, Ltd. of London was originally an importer and assembler of French Clément-Bayard automobiles. From 1906, having built new facilities, the company progressed to building British Talbot cars. Another significant milestone was the hiring of Georges Henri Roesch of Switzerland in 1916 as the company's chief engineer. He brought with him a plethora of knowledge and experience gained from motoring pioneers including Grégoire, Delaunay Belleville, Renault, and Daimler.

Mr. Roesch immediately set about designing a new range of cars for the post-WW I era, but financial constraints postponed his creations until after the formation of Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq in 1920. With financial stability in place, his designs were proven to be engineering masterpieces. His six-cylinder engine was endowed with lightweight internal components, and could rev to an unusually high 4,500 rpm. It offered excellent performance and road manners in both road-going and racing applications. Other notable engineering highlights included a gearbox lubricated by warm engine oil and an oil-pressure warning light in place of the standard gauge.

In 1930, Talbot's placed 3rd and 4th at Le Mans, and capitalizing on this success, the company introduced the improved AV105 model for 1931.

In 1932, a trio of Fox & Nicholl AV105 team cars won the Alpine Trial, having competed in the Coupe des Alpes category (a three-car team that finished with the fewest point deductions.) This particular AV105 is one of those team cars.

This Talbot A105 'Fox & Nicholl' Tourer with coachwork by Vanden Plas was delivered on July 8, 1932, to London-dealer Warwick Wright Ltd. Beneath its bonnet lurked a three-liter, high-compression, inline six-cylinder engine that produced 132 horsepower and was paired with a close-ratio four-speed gearbox. It has four-wheel drum brakes, a live rear axle with quarter-elliptical leaf springs, and a solid front axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs.

All three teams' cars were given rally modifications, including lightweight Elektron sumps and gearbox casings.

The Alpine Trial
The Alpine Trial (International Alpine Trial / Coupe Internationale des Alpes) was an annual timed distance rally that took place from 1928 to 1936 (no event was held in 1930 due to Wall Street Crash). It traversed seven different routes over the eight times it was held. The six-day, 1,625 endurance test of 1932 traversed Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, and Italy. The Talbot trio secured Coupes des Alpes top class honors with zero deductions for mechanical failure, a feat never before achieved in the event's history.

The known history of this car, beginning in 1953, passed through a number of British owners before acquisition by David Thomson of London, in 1997. A restoration by Ian Polson took two years to complete, and striping the car to bare metal revealed its original color. The gearbox and matching-numbers engine were rebuilt, and all electrical and mechanical components were addressed. After the work was completed, Mr. Thomson toured extensively with the car, participating in the Liège-Rome-Liège Rally for four consecutive years, the 1000 Miglia twice and the 75th Anniversary of the Alpine Trials in 2007.

In 2017, the engine was rebuilt by Pace Products. The current caretaker purchased the Talbot around 2019 and had SBP Historics and Ian Polson bring the car up to an entirely new level. Over £65,000 was spent on repairs and maintenance, including paintwork, a new top and side curtains, exterior hardware plating, and interior components. Upon completion, chassis 31084 earned a First in Class award at the 2023 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2024

This car is an early racer with an extensive pedigree. During the 1930s, the British Talbot racing team campaigned under the 'Fox and Nicholl' banner, and in 1932, it entered the Alpine Trial - a six-day, 1625-mile odyssey across Europe. Fox and Nichol entered three cars bodied by Vanden Plas, each a four-seater tourer with a special competition dashboard. This AV105 was one of the team cars that won the coveted 'Coupe des Alpes,' bringing the trophy home to Britain for the first time. Subsequently, it went on to race in the Flying Scotsman, the Mille Miglia twice, and the Liege-Rome-Liege seven times. A well-traveled racer, this 1932 four-seater tourer is considered one of the most original Talbot team cars in existence today.