1955 Talbot-Lago T15

The Talbot-Lago T-15, more commonly referred to as the 'Lago Baby,' was a similar design to its elder sibling but with a less potent engine and resting on a slightly shorter (20 cm less) platform. The 'Lago Baby' rested on a 2,950mm wheelbase compared to the 3,130mm wheelbase of the Record, and the overall length was approximately 200mm shorter, with the engine and its two fewer cylinders being part of the reason. Power was courtesy of a four-cylinder engine with a 2,690cc displacement and produced approximately 120 horsepower (or 15 CV (Cheval Fiscal)) - thus, earning its '15' name. The '15 CV' fiscal horsepower rating made it attractive in the French area, where the government imposed a tax based on engine displacement and output. Initially, the engine produced 110 bhp but it increased to 120 bhp in 1949.

Many of the Talbot-Lago T-15 wore four-door sedan coachwork or bodied as two-door open tourers. A handful received one-off coachwork.

Although it lacked the large platform and powerful engine of its stablemate, it was endowed with the ingenuity of Antony Lago, which meant it was highly developed and built to exacting standards. Its engine used hemispherical combustion chambers and overhead valves operated by twin camshafts positioned high in the block, similar to the ERA and Riley engines of the era. The 2.7-liter engine was backed by a four-speed transmission and had a top speed in excess of 150 km/h. An optional Wilson pre-selector gearbox was also available.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2022