Tag Archives: Lago

Phi Phi’s Parisian Winner – Talbot Lago T26 C #110008

If complicated automotive brand automotive geaneology is your thing then Talbot is most assuredly the brand for you.

Talbot Lago, T26C, Race Retro, Stoneleigh

The name first appeared in Britain on French built Clément Bayard cars in 1905 taking the name from the British Charles Chetwynd-Talbot, 20th Earl of Shrewsbury who partenered Adolphe Clément-Bayard to sell his vehicles under the Clément-Talbot name before selling British assembled Clément Bayard’s which were sold as Talbot’s. In 1906 Talbot began selling British designs.

Talbot Lago, T26C, Race Retro, Stoneleigh

After The Great War of 1914/18 British owned French manufacturer Darracq took over the Talbot in 1919 marketing their products as Talbot-Darracqs. Another merger saw Talbot become part of the Sunbeam Talbot Darracq group in 1920 which became part of the Rootes Group in 1935. Antonio Lago acquired the French manufacturing facilities from the Rootes Group in 1935 and Talbot Lago continued production until 1960 when Simca who bought Talbot Lago in 1958 discontinued the brand.

Talbot Lago, T26C, Race Retro, Stoneleigh

Antonio Lago was keen to use motor racing as a platform from which to promote his vehicles and with help from the Société d’Etude et de Fabrication d’Automobiles de Corse racing institution Lago started building two seat racing cars before building two six cylinder 4.5 litre /274 cui single seaters in 1937 with offset drivers seats. These cars were further developed in to a single seater car with a central seat that was driven by Raymond Mays, founder of ERA and later BRM, at Reims in 1939 where it retired with a split fuel tank.

Talbot Lago, T26C, Race Retro, Stoneleigh

After the 1939/45 war a development of May’s car, which won the 1947 French Grand Prix with Louis Chiron at the wheel, would form the basis of today’s featured T26 C model of which twelve were built for clients to race.

Talbot Lago, T26C, Race Retro, Stoneleigh

Despite racing against more sophisticated opposition particularly from Alfa Romeo who’s pre war supercharged 1.5 litre / 91.5 cui straight eight cars were still the most successful cars of the immediate post war era the Talbot Lago T26 C had reliability and fuel consumption in it’s favour in the longer races.

Talbot Lago, T26C, Race Retro, Stoneleigh

Averaging 9 miles per gallon compared to 2 – 3 mpg or worse for the supercharged cars meant that the Talbot Lago’s 200 plus horsepower was enough to cancel out the 100 hp advantage held by the more sophisticated machinery. The T26 C’s carried the road car Lago Record name on the side, some of the parts were interchangeable between the two models. The T26 C would be used as the basis for the Talbot Lago T26 GS sports cars one of which won Le Mans in 1950.

Talbot Lago, T26C, Race Retro, Stoneleigh

Chassis #110008 seen here was purchased by pre war racer Philippe “Phi Phi” Étancelin who drove the car to a second place finish at Albi in 1948, further second place finishes in the 1949 Italain, Czech and Pau Grand Prix with a season high win in the 1949 Paris Grand Prix.

At the Italian Grand Prix in 1950 “Phi Phi” aged 53, whose wife acted as his crew chief, became the oldest driver to score a point in the World Drivers Championship driving #110008.

#110008 was subsequently sold to Jean Achard a Frenchman resident in Brazil who intended to enter it in the Indy 500, before he was killed driving a Ferrari while competing in a hillclimb.

By the end of the ’50’s #110008 was raced by Brazilian Pinherio Pirres and later still was fitted with a Chevrolet motor and independent rear suspension. The car was brought back to the UK by Colin Crabbe in the late 70’s and restoration was completed while the car was owned by Tony Bianchi in the 1980’s.

My thanks to Tim Murray, hamsterace, Alan Cox, David McKinney, John Ruston and especially Tony “Odseybod” Turner who kindly sent me a copy of an article from September 2011 issue of Classic Cars about the T26C and T26 GS models.

Thanks for joining me on this “Phi Phi’s Parisian Winner” edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

PS My thoughts on the British Grand Prix can be found at Motorsports Unplugged on this link.

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Awesome Copper – Hillsborough Concours d’Elegance

Geoffrey Horton attended the Hillsborough Concours d’Elegance two weeks ago and kindly sent me another excellent selection of photographs to share.

Chevrolet Series D, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

Chevrolet’s first V8 was built for the Series D from 1917/18, it produced a modest, even by contemporary standards, 36 hp from it’s 4.7 litre 288 cui motor. Poor sales discouraged Chevrolet from returning to the V8 concept until 1955.

Rolls Royce Silver Ghost by Brockman, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

The National Automobile Museum in Reno NV is home to this 1921 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost with a unique copper sheet body by Brockman. Other features include wood trim from a single ebony tree trunk along with nickle and silver fittings.

Marmon Sixteen, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

The Marmon Sixteen was the first of the three automotive V16’s to be developed in 1927, unfortunately Marmon was in such desperate financial straights that two of it’s engineers went to Peerless and Cadillac to develop to more V16 designs and the Marmon was the last of the three to reach production in 1931. Only 400 of these 8 litre / 491 cui 45 degree V16 powered cars were built before the Great Depression brought an end to automobile production for the company.

Packard 12 1107 Club Sedan, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

This Concours winning 1934 Packard 12-1107 Club Sedan is even rarer than the Marmon 16 with just 51 built. Powered by a 160 hp side valve V12 the car is fitted with a radio that cost an additional $79.50 on top of the original $4,060 list price. In today’s money the radio would work out at around $800 !

Ford Phaeton, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

Ford Phaeton’s powered by 85hp flathead V8’s were manufactured in 1935 and 1936 and featured hydraulically actuated brakes on all four wheels. The example seen here was built in 1936.

Studebaker Comander Starlight Coupé, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

“First by far with a postwar car” was Studebaker with it’s Commander Starlight Coupé with aeroplane styling designed by Raymond Loewy. 4,383 of these cars were built in 1950 this one has a six tube radio.

Alfa Romeo 6C 2500SS Coupé, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

ALFA Romeo did not start post war production until 1947, the 6C 2500 Super Sport Coupé was top of the range in 1950. Developed by Vittorio Jano and Wilfredo Ricart the 6C 2500 was the last Alfa Romeo to be built with a separate body and chassis. The bodywork on this model is by Touring of Turin. Note this particular car unusually features the driver sitting on the right.

Kaiser Darin, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

Henry Kaiser used a fortune made producing ships for the Navy during the 1939/45 war to begin production of Kaiser cars. The chassis of the second Henry J model was used as the basis of this fibre glass bodied roadster by Howard ‘Dutch’ Darrin. 435 Kaiser Darrin’s, featuring doors that slide forward into the front wing / fender were manufactured in 1954.

Talbot Lago 14TS, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

I’m not sure of exactly which year this Talbot Lago was built, 54 T14 LS models were built with 4 cylinder Talbot motors in 1955 and subsequentley similar Talbot Laga America models were supplied with more reliable BMW V8 motors.

Mercedes Benz 220 SE Cabriolet, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

Priced to compete with the Caddilac Biaritz this 134 hp 1960 Mercedes Benz 220 SE Cabriolet has an interior covered almost entirely in leather. 1,112 of these Cabriolet’s were manufactured between 1958 and 1960.

AC Cobra Dragonsnake, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

Just six Shelby American Cobra Dragonsnakes were manufactured for drag racing. The second, chassis CSX 2357, seen here was driven by Jere Kirkpatrick to set NHRA A/Stock Sports records at Fremont, Riverside and Arlington. Jere also drove CSX 2357 to win the 1965 Winter Nationals in Phoenix.

Lancia Flavia, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

Featuring a flat four boxer engine and front wheel drive the Lancia Flavia was maufactured from 1961 to 1970. The bodywork for the 1965 Coupé seen here was designed by Pininfarina.

Thanks for joining me on this “Awesome Copper” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be revisiting the Haynes International Motor Museum. Don’t forget to come back now !

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All Adjectives Used To Define Exquisite – Marin Sanoma Concours d’ Elegance

Among the hand chosen, to require all the “Adjectives Used To Define Exquisite”, participants gathered at Marin Sanoma Concours d’Elegance for the May weekend 18th – 20th was GALPOT’s Geoffrey Horton and his pristine Jaguar XK 140 FHC SE/MC.

Hispano Suiza K6, Mairn Sanoma Concours d'Elegance

So far as I can tell the vehicle above is a Hispano Suiza K6 built somewhere between 1934 and 1937 with bodywork by Pourtout. 204 K6’s were built in France before hostilities in Spain forced the manufacturer to abandon motor vehicle manufacture focus on the production of aircraft engines.

Talbot Lago T 150 C SS Goutte d'Eau, Marin Sanoma C d'E

Consecutive three time Le Mans winner, driving Bentleys, Woolf Baranto ordered the Talbot Lago T150C SS with “Goutte d’Eau”, water drop, bodywork by Figoni & Falaschi in 1938. The car belongs to the Mullin Automotive Collection which celebrates the art deco movement at the Mullin Automotive Museum located in Oxnard California.

Delahaye Type 165 Cabriolet, Marin Sanoma C d'E

Judged to require all the adjectives to define exquisite at the 2012 Marin Sanoma Concours d’Elegance was the 1939 Delahaye Type 165 Cabriolet again with bodywork by Figoni et Falaschi and belonging to the Mullin Automotive Museum !

Jaguar D-Type, Marin Sanoma C d'E

D-Type Jaguar chassis XKC#404 registered OKV 3 was part of a three car works team at Le Mans in 1954 where it retired with gearbox failure, at Rheims Peter Whitehead and Ken Wharton were able to make the car last 12 hours and crossed the line first. The car was acquired by John Love in 1959 and he drove it two victories before Neville Austin bought it drove it to two further victories, giving the car at least four known victories on the African continent.

Jaguar XK 140 FHC SE/MC, Marine Sanoma C d'E

Geoffrey Horton’s 1955 XK140 can be seen getting thoroughly inspected by the Concours d’Elegance judges above, he was awarded second place in the Imports to over $3,500 1946 through 1962 class.

Ferrari 330 GT TR Replica, Marin Sanoma C d'E

The Ferrari above started life as a silver Ferrari 330 GT which appears to have been sold new to the German importer Auto Becker Gmbh & Co in 1965. Somewhere between 1965 and 2002 the body was replaced with a TR 59/60 replica as seen here.

Porsche 906, Marin Sanoma C d'E

The 1966 Porsche 906 above is credit with numerous class wins from 1966 to 1977 in the hands of drivers 1966 E-modified champion Don Wester, Lew Florence from 1967 – 68, Milt Minter and John Morton in 1970/71 and Harald Kirberg from 1971 to 1977 when the car appeared with a different body in the rejuvinated Can Am series.

Shadow Mk II, Marin Sanoma C d'E

Looking a tad workman like in the company outlined above was the Shadow Mk II above. A one off built for Jackie Oliver to drive in the 1971 Cam Am series. Powered by a 8.1 litre / 494 cui Chaparral prepared Chevrolet V8 Jackie scored a best third place finish at Edmonton when the car appeared painted white with black lettering on all the upward facing surfaces except the rear wing. This car now belonging to Mr Losher won the Closed Wheel Sports Racing Cars class of the Marin Sanoma Concours d’Elegance.

I hope you will join me in congratulating Geoffrey on his second place class award and thanking him for sharing his photographs.

Thanks for joining me on this “All Adjectives Used To Define Exquisite” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” and that you will join me again tomorrow when I shall be visiting Middle Barton Garage which is celebrating it’s 25th Anniversary. Don’t forget to come back now !

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