conceptcarz.com

Image credit: © conceptcarz.com (Reproduction Or reuse prohibited).

1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS Coupe

  • Designed by Figoni & Falaschi
  • Chassis Number: 90107
  • VIN Number: 173180 or 85021
  • Engine Number: 173180 or 85021
  • Body Number: 665 (Order number)
This Talbot-Lago is one of two automobiles built by Figoni with these iconic closed front fenders - and the sole survivor with the original body. Entitled the 'Coupe Amerique,' it debuted at the 1937 New York Auto Show - the first time Figoni's 'teardrop' design had been seen Stateside. It was exhibited at the Trocadero Gardens in Paris for the 1938 Concours d'Elegance Femina, and won the Prix d'Excellence for its then-owner, the Princess of Kapurthala, also known as Stella Mudge, a dancehall performer who married the Maharaja of Kapurthala.

The car was sold in 1939 to well-known American collector Tommy Lee through Luigi Chinetti, and was later acquired by Lindley Locke, who kept it for nearly 50 years. It went to the Nethercutt Collection in 2004 and, following an exacting restoration, won its class at the Pebble Beach Concours in 2005.
This Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS is believed to have been based on rendering number 9035, a variation of the Modéle New York design with skirted and fully enveloping front fenders. Built from aluminum, this Talbot-Lago is one of two examples of this type and the only remaining example with its original coachwork intact. It is believed to be one of four Talbot-Lago vehicles with a teardrop design ordered by Freddy McEvoy.

This vehicle left Figoni's factory with painted wire wheels, a sunroof, a blue exterior with gray fenders, and an oval cloisonne badge with the words 'Lago S.S. Paris.' Upon completion, the car was registered in Paris as '3772 RL4' to André David.

On June 24th, 1938, the car was shown at the Concours d'Elegance Fémina held at the Trocadéro Gardens. This Talbot-Lago was joined by two other T150-C-SS Coupes (chassis 90108 - a Modéle New York Teardrop shown by the stepdaughter of Ovidio Falaschi, and chassis 90114 with factory coachwork entered by Freddy McEvoy's mistress, Beatrice Cartwright). For this event, chassis 90107 had been painted cream with red fenders.

At the Concours d'Elegance Fémina, this car (chassis 90107) was awarded the Prix d'Excellence and was presented by Princess Stella de Kapurthala who had recently married Paramjit Singh.

In 1939, the Talbot-Lago was sold to Thomas Stewart Lee of Los Angeles and brought to the United States. Mr. Lee would amass an extensive stable of prominent vehicles over the years, including two other Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS Coupes (chassis 90108 and 90114).

While in Mr. Lee's care, chassis 90107 was repainted in dark red. On occasions, the car was taken to the desert flats, east of Los Angeles, where it was driven at speeds in excess of 117 mph. Mr. Lee's passion and the quest for speed ultimately led to a tragic car accident, leaving him in chronic pain and reliant on painkillers. Eventually, he was forced by legal means to relinquish control of his business empire, declared 'mentally incompetent, and admitted to the Pasadena Sanitarium. In early 1950, Mr. Lee took his life; following his suicide, a full-page advertisement appeared in the September 1950 issue of Road & Track magazine, stating: 'Forced Sale of Prize Collection: The Thomas S. Lee world-famous foreign sport cars must be sold immediately. By order of the Los Angeles County Public Administrator.'

Chassis 90107 was acquired in 1951 by John Duckworth, and the following year, in March, the Talbot-Lago was on the cover of Road & Track. It was road tested, along with his Figoni-bodied Delahaye 135 Roadster, for a feature article. Soon after the article appeared in print, the car was sold to Jerry Hould, who, in turn, sold it to Walker Edmiston.

In 1956, Lindley Locke added it to his growing collection of custom-bodied French cars. While in his care, the car was painted white and driven occasionally during the years of Mr. Locke's ownership. By the early 1960s, the car was put into storage at his Santa Monica, California, garage, where it remained for the next four decades.

In 2002, the car reappeared in Richard Adatto's book, From Passion to Perfection. In 2004, Lindley Locke's widow Betty donated 90107 to The Nethercutt Collection. A ground-up restoration soon followed, with original paint and leather upholstery used as references, ensuring its return to its original colors and configuration.

After the restoration was completed, it debuted in 2005 at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where it earned a First in Class trophy. In 2007 it won Best of Show at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.

By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2022

2022 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island Auction

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $10,000,000 
Sale Price :
USD $13,425,000

1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the Talbot-Lago T150C SS

(Data based on Model Year 1937 sales)
1937 TALBOT-LAGO T150-C-SS TEARDROP COUPE
Chassis#: 90107
Sold for USD$13,425,000
  2022 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island Auction
1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS image  1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS image  
1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS 'Goutte d'Eau' Coupé by Figoni et Falaschi
Chassis#: 90110
Sold for USD$3,756,721
  2017 RM Sothebys : Villa Erba
 
1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS
Sold for USD$3,520,000
  2009 The Scottsdale Auction : Gooding & Company
1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS image  1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS image  

Talbot-Lago T150C SSs That Failed To Sell At Auction

1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS901152009 Sports & Classics of Monterey$1,200,000$1,500,000$2,000,000

Vehicles With Comparable Market Values

Similar sales to the $6,900,574 range.
1966 Ford GT40 MkI Road Car
Sold for $6,930,000
2024 Mecum : Kissimmee
1959 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Coupe Series III by Pinin Farina
Chassis#:1305 SA
Sold for $6,605,000
2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle thumbnail image  1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle thumbnail image  
1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta by Scaglietti
Sold for $7,126,465
2023 RM Sothebys : Villa Erba
1960 FERRARI 250 GT SWB BERLINETTA COMPETIZIONE
Chassis#:2021 GT
Sold for $6,697,357
2022 Gooding & Company : London Auction
1958 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series I by Pinin Farina
Chassis#:0963 GT
Sold for $6,825,000
2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle thumbnail image  1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle thumbnail image  
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Alloy Gullwing
Chassis#:198.043.5500332
Sold for $6,825,000
2022 RM Sothebys : Arizona
1955 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione by Pinin Farina
Chassis#:0385 GT
Sold for $7,007,348
2021 RM Sothebys : The Guikas Collection
1932 Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport Roadster
Chassis#:55220
Sold for $7,100,000
2020 Bonhams : Amelia Island Concours
1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle thumbnail image  1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle thumbnail image  
2002 Ferrari F2002
Chassis#:219
Sold for $6,643,750
2019 RM Sothebys : Abu Dhabi
2017 Pagani Zonda Aether
Chassis#:ZA9C820C110F76131
Sold for $6,812,500
2019 RM Sothebys : Abu Dhabi
1958 Ferrari 250 GT Series I Cabriolet
Chassis#:0789 GT
Sold for $6,800,000
2019 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle thumbnail image  
1958 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France Berlinetta
Chassis#:0905 GT
Sold for $6,600,000
2018 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle thumbnail image  1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle thumbnail image  
1959 Aston Martin DB4GT Prototype
Chassis#:DP199/1
Sold for $6,765,000
2017 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle thumbnail image  1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle thumbnail image  
1939 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster by Sindelfingen
Chassis#:408383
Sold for $6,600,000
2017 RM Sotheby's : Arizona Auction
1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle thumbnail image  1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle thumbnail image  
1965 Ford GT40 Roadster Prototype
Chassis#:GT/108
Sold for $6,930,000
2014 RM Auctions at Monterey
1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle thumbnail image  1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle thumbnail image  
1958 FERRARI 250 GT SERIES 1 CABRIOLET
Chassis#:0759 GT
Sold for $6,820,000
2014 Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction
1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle thumbnail image  1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle thumbnail image  
1962 FERRARI 250 GT SHORT-WHEELBASE SPECIALE AERODINAMICA
Chassis#:3615
Sold for $6,875,000
2014 Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction
1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle thumbnail image  1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle thumbnail image  
1964 FORD GT40 PROTOTYPE
Sold for $7,000,000
2014 Mecum - Houston
1937 Delahaye 135 Competition Court Torpedo Roadster by Figoni et Falaschi
Chassis#:48667
Sold for $6,600,000
2014 RM Auctions - Amelia Island
1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle thumbnail image  1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle thumbnail image  
1938 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS Teardrop Cabriolet by Figoni et Falaschi
Chassis#:90111
Sold for $7,150,000
2013 RM Auction - Art of the Automobile

1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS

Additional valuation insight and sales data
History
Specifications
Image gallery
Other Talbot-Lago T150C SS model years

1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS Vehicle Profiles

1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle information
Teardrop Roadster
Coachwork: Figoni & Falaschi
Chassis #: 90115
1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle information
Roadster
Coachwork: Figoni & Falaschi
Chassis #: 82928
1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle information
Cabriolet
Coachwork: Figoni & Falaschi
Chassis #: 90111
1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle information
Coupe
Designer: Figoni & Falaschi
Chassis #: 90106
1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle information
Coupe
Designer: Figoni & Falaschi
Chassis #: 90105
Engine #: 85019
1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle information
Coupe
Designer: Figoni & Falaschi
Chassis #: 90103
Engine #: 85018
1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle information
New York Teardrop Coupe
Coachwork: Figoni & Falaschi
Chassis #: 90105
1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle information
Coupe
Designer: Figoni & Falaschi
Chassis #: 90107
Engine #: 173180 or 85021
Vin #: 90107
1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS vehicle information
Coupe
Designer: Figoni & Falaschi
Chassis #: 90104