1947 Talbot-Lago T26 Record Berline

Lot details
Registration No: T.B.A.
Chassis No: 100/100
Mot Expiry: T.B.A.

Introduced in 1946, the Talbot Lago T26 Record was hailed as the 'World's Most Powerful Production Car'. Boasting a Le Mans and Grand Prix heritage, the newcomer's 4.5-litre engine featured twin high-set camshafts, dual Zenith carburettors and hemispherical combustion chambers. Quoted as developing 170hp, the straight-six was allied to four-speed manual (or Wilson pre-selector) transmission and cradled in a substantial box-section chassis that also sported independent coil-and-wishbone front suspension and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Of the circa 600 T26 Record chassis made, just 91 are thought to have worn factory four-light Berline coachwork. Despatched from the Suresnes Works on May 13th 1947, chassis 100100 is long rumoured to have been supplied new to the King of Belgium by the renowned Etablissement Guerret of Brussels (however, none of the accompanying paperwork supports such a claim). Imported to Jersey by private car dealer Dave Watts, the Talbot-Lago was sold to aircraft engineer Arthur Michel of St Brelade who road registered it as 'J24890' on July 5th 1960. Passing through the hands of Jersey Airlines pilot David White and Jersey Airport Administrator David Luce thereafter, the T26 Record had been dry stored for over thirty years by the time it entered the current ownership on October 20th 2009. Sympathetically recomissioned so as not to disturb its patinated Black paintwork or original Red leather upholstery, the sliding sunroof-equipped Berline has once more been used on Jersey roads. Riding on refurbished wire wheels shod with Blockley tyres, more recent work has seen chassis 100100 benefit from attention to its cylinder head (overhauled), oil pump, Wilson pre-selector transmission (new output shaft and bearing) and carburettors. Born of the same tradition as the Bugatti Type 57, this handsome Talbot-Lago is offered for sale with numerous restoration receipts.

PLEASE NOTE: This lot has been officially imported to the UK from Jersey with all relevant duties paid. The DVLA are in the process of issuing a V5C Registration Document for the Talbot-Lago which will be forwarded to the successful purchaser.