1936 Talbot-Lago T120

When Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq dissolved in 1934, automobile engineer Major Anthony F. 'Tony' Lago acquired the Darracq factory at Suresnes and continued production, selling his cars as Darracqs in the UK and Talbots in France. Only two years later, the company would achieve victories in the French Grand Prix and the Tourist Trophy.

Mr. Lago elected to use the existing X-braced (box section) chassis with robust independent front suspension with transverse leaf springs, a live rear axle with semi-elliptical springs, friction shock absorbers, and mechanical drum brakes. For the power, engineer Walter Becchia was tasked with building a new six-cylinder unit of 2.7-, 3.0-, and 4.0-liter displacement sizes. The latter had inclined overhead valves set in hemispherical combustion chambers and operated by crossed pushrods, while the 3.0-liter unit had traditional pushrod-actuated overhead valves. The French market received a 2.4-liter four-cylinder model, while other markets received Baby, Minor, Major, and Master models of varying wheelbase lengths up to 3,450mm. The Baby version rested on a short wheelbase chassis size of 116.1 inches (2950 mm), the Major version measured 126 inches (3,200mm), and the Master at 135.8 inches (3,450mm). Mr. Lago had been instrumental in the creation of the Wilson pre-selector gearbox in England, and this unit would be retained on the larger models.

Talbot-Lago introduced the T120 and T150 models at the Paris Auto Show, held near the close of 1934. The T120 employed the 3.0-liter engine while the T150 came equipped with the larger 4.0-liter unit.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2022