1938 Talbot-Lago T150C Spéciale Cabriolet

The French Talbot factory in Suresnes outside Paris had built a list of automobiles but by the early 1930s, it longevity was in question. It had been experiencing financial difficulties and their vehicles were becoming dated. In 1932, the Depression hit France; a year later, there was no liquidity left and the banks closed the company credit line and the managing director Owen Clegg cabled Sunbeam-Talbot in London that Talbot in France was facing closure and liquidation. In hopes of righting the ship, Anthony Lago was sent to France, where he revamped the entire Talbot line, sliced superfluous model variations, improved engines and drivetrains, and introduced the Wilson pre-selector gearbox.

After a few years of resurrecting the company, Anthony Lago set about truly transforming Talbot-Lago, which was the new name he gave the company. He had worked with Joseph Figoni in1 934 on a set of new designs for the entire lineup of Talbot cars. Unlike Delahaye, Talbot maintained a proprietary in-house coachbuilding facility at the Suresnes factory, which Lago intended to utilize.

In 1934, at the Paris Salon, a coach built cabriolet by Figoni, wearing a Figoni plaque, was put on display. This car would serve as a design template for the forthcoming factory-built Talbots. The new model was called T150 C or Lago Spéciale and featured a new chassis that Lago had Clandestinely developed. Two versions were offered; the SS and the Lago Speciale. The SS version, as in the English phrase 'Super Sport', had a short-wheelbase (2.65 m) chassis and was designed for two- or three-place coachwork. Although mechanically identical to the SS, the Lago Speciale was designed to accommodate more luxurious bodywork.

In 1938, the Talbot revised the original Figoni design. The sides and beltline were reworked for a smoother effect. To increase luggage space, the disappearing convertible top mechanism was re-engineered to a non-disappearing configuration. A Figoni grille design could be ordered instead of the traditional Talbot factory grille.

This particular example, chassis number 90039, is a 'second-generation' T150C Lago Speciale, and one of just 51 T150C models produced. It is a right-hand drive example fitted with the pre-selector Wilson-type gearbox. It is believed that this car was delivered to America when new. If this was the case, then it was probably imported by Luigi Chinetti who was the Talbot-Lago agent for the US at the time.

Descriptions& Pictures by conceptcarz & bonhams & flickr & en.wheelsage