1938 Talbot-Lago T150C Cabriolet Roadster

Figoni & Falaschi was known for producing some of the most flamboyant, if not elegant coachwork for the French carrossiers. Talbot-Lago was formed following the collapse of Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq in 1935, with the Darracq name being continued for use on export models. Anthony Lago, founder, set out to build a line of exclusive and expensive sports cars. He introduced the T-150-C in 1936, which enabled him to persuade Rene Dreyfus to leave Ferrari and drive for him at the French Grand Prix.

This Darrocq /Talbot Lago is a one-off built similar to the style of the 1936 Paris Auto Salon Delahaye. The Figoni and Falashi body build number is 703. This car was initially sold by DaRocha, the Talbot-Lago concessionaire in Portugal, to Count and Countess deCollivia of Oporto. Darracq was the name for the export Talbot-Lago. It remained in that family until 1975. It was specially ordered with coachwork similar in style to that of the 1936 Paris Auto Salon Delahaye and is the only enclosed-fender Talbot-Lago built. It is constructed on a standard T-150-C long-wheelbase chassis and powered by a 4-litre hemi-head in-line 6-cylinder engine mated to a 4-speed Wilson pre-selector gearbox.

This Figoni-bodied Talbot Lago is one of the most striking designs of the coachbuilding era. Its signature features include sweeping pontoon fenders, a low windscreen, and intimate seating for two. The car appears in motion while standing still. It has recently undergone a full restoration and debuted at Pebble Beach in 2006, where it won the French Cup. The car won the first Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in unrestored condition, and has since undergone a meticulously complete restoration in 2006.