Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq was an Anglo-French company which collapsed in 1935, and the British part of the venture was bought out by the Rootes brothers who launched 'Sunbeam-Talbot' as a new sporting version of contemporary Hillmans and Humbers. In France STD director Anthony Lago created the 'Talbot-Lago' brand out of the Talbot-Darracq models; these cars were badged 'Darracq' in Britain. Walter Brecchia was his engineer, and soon created a 2.7-litre ohv six engine, a 3.0-litre ohv six engine and a 3,996cc ohv engine. This engine was developed after the Second World War by Carlo Marchetti to 4,482cc for racing and then given to the T26. A 2,690cc 4-cylinder dohc engine was developed for the Talbot-Lago Baby sold from 1948-51. By 1957 a further new engine was needed and Talbot-Lago turned to BMW to supply a 2.5-litre V8 from the BMW 507. However in 1958 Henri Pigozzi from SIMCA approached Tony Lago and the takeover resulted in Simca-Talbot cars from 1959. Tony Lago died in 1960 and soon became clear that the Talbot plant had been purchased by SIMCA for very much less than the site was worth; SIMCA regarded the Talbot name as worthless and produced no more Talbots after 1959.
aa Talbot-Lago T150-C SS 1937 badget
Talbot-Lago T150-C SS 1937 - badge on rear. The 'Special' was the longer wheelbase 2.95m version of the CSS intended for more luxurious coachwork.
aa Talbot-Lago T120 1936 TT Replica badgel
Talbot-Lago T120 1936 TT Replica - badge on grille. Antonio Lago was a director of Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq when it failed and was taken over by the Rootes Brothers in England. In France Lago took over the Suresnes operation as 'Talbot-Lago'.
aa Talbot Lago T120 Sports 1938 badge
Talbot Lago T120 Sports 1938 badge on bonnet
aa Talbot Lago T150C 1939 badge
Talbot Lago T150C 1939 - badge on bonnet
aa Talbot-Lago T15 1952 Baby 2-5 plate
Talbot-Lago Baby 1952 2-5 4-door sedan - coachbuilders plate. Talbot had a long tradition of building its own coachwork, but it could also sell chassis for other coachbuilders.
Talbot Lago T23 1939 racer20
Talbot Lago T23 1939, with 4,000cc engine. The T23 chassis was a new design commissioned by Anthony Lago when he took control of Talbot. He brought in Walter Brecchia to engineer the T23. A new 4-litre engine with hemispherical heads was developed, giving 140 bhp. Numerous racing victories came from the T23
Talbot T23 Baby 1939 Cabriolet front
Talbot T23 Baby 1939 Cabriolet, coachwork by Chapron. The T23 was developed by Major Lago and Walter Becchia with a choice of 3-litre or 4-litre engines. 'Baby' refers to this being the shortest (2,950 mm) of 4 different chassis lengths. 'T23' refers to the 23CV 3,996cc engine.
