Talbot Lago T 26 Record cabriolet
Dutch title FIVA Identity card Engine n° 26002 - Continuous history, original engine - Remarkable restoration - Concours d'élégance-winning potential - One of the first T 26 examples produced, register as a Prototype by the factory In the aftermath of the Second World War, the " Pons Plan " regulated the distribution of raw materials in France, and therefore also the production of motor cars. Cars that were deemed to be " exceptional vehicles " could be built for export, in order to bring in valuable funds from abroad. Thus, in 1946 Talbot was given authorisation initially to build 125 cars. The marque decided to produce a 26 CV with the name Lago Record, a new version of its six-cylinder 4.5-litre car. It featured twin overhead camshafts high in the engine, with short rods and rocker arms controlling the valves in a hemispherical combustion chamber. This was the set-up adopted by the competition ERAs in England. The outstanding engine produced an impressive 170 bhp, making the Lago Record one of the fastest touring cars of its day. According to the factory register, this Talbot T26 cabriolet n°100002 was the second to be built in 1946. It was registered as a 'prototype', with engine n°26002, which is still fitted today. The car was given an elegant and slender factory body, and the register notes a " grey T14 " livery with " red leather 51 " upholstery, and hood in grey alpaca. The wheels " matched the leather " and the dashboard was in " natural walnut with the central part lined with leather. " The records also show that it was delivered on 14 December 1946 to a M. Guerret from Brussels. One of the special features of the bodywork on this model is that the windscreen does not have an upper surround. The hood comes down to close directly on the glass. It is thought that this feature was only used on the first two cabriolets built after the war. On 28 July 1971, this beautiful Talbot was bought by M. Bruggeman, who lived in Vessem, in the Netherlands, for the sum of 9,000 Belgian francs, as shown by the period invoice. He enjoyed the ownership of the car until 1997, when it passed into the hands of one of his friends, the current owner, who is a great enthusiast for pre-war and Aston Martin motor cars. Photos from this period show the car still in original condition with its light grey bodywork. The new owner, a specialist in industrial paints, decided to carry out a total restoration, which took some ten years ! The file of photographs of the restoration show that the car was completely dismantled, and the wood re-built. The interior retains its original colour as well as the very particular presentation of the dashboard, with numerous instruments grouped together on a section of leather fixed onto the wood. The car is outstandingly beautiful, presented in dark grey with black wings. Its superb presentation has won the car several awards at various concours d'élégance events across northern Europe: - 2 September 2007, first prize in the category for French cars in the concours d'élégance in Schwetzingen, Germany. - 31 August 2008, first prize in the " Post-War Open Tourer" category in the concours d'élégance at Palais Het Loo, Apeldoorn, in the Netherlands. - 10 June 2012, first prize in the Coppa Classic in Malle, Belgium. Today, the doors are open for concours events that are further afield, even across the Atlantic. This, after all, is one of the most important and desirable of Lago Records. It combines the unbeatable sophistication of a French body with the brilliance of an engine that brought Talbot great success in competition, in the T 26 C and T 26 GS.
Dutch title FIVA Identity card Engine n° 26002 - Continuous history, original engine - Remarkable restoration - Concours d'élégance-winning potential - One of the first T 26 examples produced, register as a Prototype by the factory In the aftermath of the Second World War, the " Pons Plan " regulated the distribution of raw materials in France, and therefore also the production of motor cars. Cars that were deemed to be " exceptional vehicles " could be built for export, in order to bring in valuable funds from abroad. Thus, in 1946 Talbot was given authorisation initially to build 125 cars. The marque decided to produce a 26 CV with the name Lago Record, a new version of its six-cylinder 4.5-litre car. It featured twin overhead camshafts high in the engine, with short rods and rocker arms controlling the valves in a hemispherical combustion chamber. This was the set-up adopted by the competition ERAs in England. The outstanding engine produced an impressive 170 bhp, making the Lago Record one of the fastest touring cars of its day. According to the factory register, this Talbot T26 cabriolet n°100002 was the second to be built in 1946. It was registered as a 'prototype', with engine n°26002, which is still fitted today. The car was given an elegant and slender factory body, and the register notes a " grey T14 " livery with " red leather 51 " upholstery, and hood in grey alpaca. The wheels " matched the leather " and the dashboard was in " natural walnut with the central part lined with leather. " The records also show that it was delivered on 14 December 1946 to a M. Guerret from Brussels. One of the special features of the bodywork on this model is that the windscreen does not have an upper surround. The hood comes down to close directly on the glass. It is thought that this feature was only used on the first two cabriolets built after the war. On 28 July 1971, this beautiful Talbot was bought by M. Bruggeman, who lived in Vessem, in the Netherlands, for the sum of 9,000 Belgian francs, as shown by the period invoice. He enjoyed the ownership of the car until 1997, when it passed into the hands of one of his friends, the current owner, who is a great enthusiast for pre-war and Aston Martin motor cars. Photos from this period show the car still in original condition with its light grey bodywork. The new owner, a specialist in industrial paints, decided to carry out a total restoration, which took some ten years ! The file of photographs of the restoration show that the car was completely dismantled, and the wood re-built. The interior retains its original colour as well as the very particular presentation of the dashboard, with numerous instruments grouped together on a section of leather fixed onto the wood. The car is outstandingly beautiful, presented in dark grey with black wings. Its superb presentation has won the car several awards at various concours d'élégance events across northern Europe: - 2 September 2007, first prize in the category for French cars in the concours d'élégance in Schwetzingen, Germany. - 31 August 2008, first prize in the " Post-War Open Tourer" category in the concours d'élégance at Palais Het Loo, Apeldoorn, in the Netherlands. - 10 June 2012, first prize in the Coppa Classic in Malle, Belgium. Today, the doors are open for concours events that are further afield, even across the Atlantic. This, after all, is one of the most important and desirable of Lago Records. It combines the unbeatable sophistication of a French body with the brilliance of an engine that brought Talbot great success in competition, in the T 26 C and T 26 GS.