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Automotive Lifestyle
VINTAGE: Streamlined 1947 Talbot Lago In Full Glory At Barrett-Jackson
The French coachbuilt coupe in glossy-black and red leather is part of the Salon Collection at the Scottsdale auction.
The 1947 Talbot Lago’s eye-catching styling was created by Carrosserie Franay of Paris. (Photo: Barrett-Jackson)
One of the most glorious expressions of the French coachwork tradition can be found in this 1947 Talbot Lago T26 Grand Sport (Lot #5019), a glossy-black fantasy of sweeping curves, chrome trim and red leather interior, part of Barrett-Jackson’s Salon Collection offered at the Scottsdale auction.
With a body crafted by the Carrosserie Franay of Paris, the Grand Sport marks the rapid recovery of Talbot Lago after World War II with a sporting and evocative expression of postwar exuberance.
Talbot Lago began production of its new T26 shortly after wartime hostilities ceased. There were two models of the T26: the Record production car and the special Grand Sport, which was built as either a road or a race car. The Grand Sport road car also featured a 4.5-Liter straight-six engine with twin camshafts and triple Stromberg carburetors, the same as the company’s Grand Prix cars.
None of the Grand Sports were fitted with factory bodies; each chassis was sent off to one of France’s great coachbuilders. Of the three Franay-bodied Grand Sports, one was a convertible and two were streamlined coupes, including this one.
The 1947 Talbot Lago offered at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction, Chassis 110113, is one of eight Grand Sports out of 30 built with the same shortened chassis as the company’s Grand Prix and sports-racing cars. It was originally sold to an individual in Geneva, Switzerland, likely one of the few places with enough wealth immediately after the ravages of World War II for such an extravagant car as a Franay-bodied Grand Sport.
The car was found in Tennessee in 1988 in very original condition, and it was treated to a complete restoration in 2004, appearing a year later at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The restoration of the two-seat coupe retained its original body panels, engine and chassis.
Talbot Lago was created in 1934 from the Depression-wracked ruins of the Anglo-French Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq Company, rescued by Italian industrialist Anthony Lago. The new owner attained the rights to both the Darracq and Talbot brands, marketing his sports-luxury cars under the Darracq name in continental Europe and Talbot Lago in Great Britain and the United States. The major highlight of the company’s competition efforts was winning the 24 Hours of LeMans in 1950 with a T26C race car.
The 42nd annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction takes place Jan 13-20 at WestWorld, with 39 hours of live coverage on SPEED. For more information about the event, see Barrett-Jackson.com.
Bob Golfen, Automotive Editor for SPEED.com, is a veteran auto writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, with a passion for collector cars, car culture and the automotive lifestyle. SPEED.com fans can email Bob Golfen at
With a body crafted by the Carrosserie Franay of Paris, the Grand Sport marks the rapid recovery of Talbot Lago after World War II with a sporting and evocative expression of postwar exuberance.
Talbot Lago began production of its new T26 shortly after wartime hostilities ceased. There were two models of the T26: the Record production car and the special Grand Sport, which was built as either a road or a race car. The Grand Sport road car also featured a 4.5-Liter straight-six engine with twin camshafts and triple Stromberg carburetors, the same as the company’s Grand Prix cars.
None of the Grand Sports were fitted with factory bodies; each chassis was sent off to one of France’s great coachbuilders. Of the three Franay-bodied Grand Sports, one was a convertible and two were streamlined coupes, including this one.
The 1947 Talbot Lago offered at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction, Chassis 110113, is one of eight Grand Sports out of 30 built with the same shortened chassis as the company’s Grand Prix and sports-racing cars. It was originally sold to an individual in Geneva, Switzerland, likely one of the few places with enough wealth immediately after the ravages of World War II for such an extravagant car as a Franay-bodied Grand Sport.
The car was found in Tennessee in 1988 in very original condition, and it was treated to a complete restoration in 2004, appearing a year later at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The restoration of the two-seat coupe retained its original body panels, engine and chassis.
Talbot Lago was created in 1934 from the Depression-wracked ruins of the Anglo-French Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq Company, rescued by Italian industrialist Anthony Lago. The new owner attained the rights to both the Darracq and Talbot brands, marketing his sports-luxury cars under the Darracq name in continental Europe and Talbot Lago in Great Britain and the United States. The major highlight of the company’s competition efforts was winning the 24 Hours of LeMans in 1950 with a T26C race car.
The 42nd annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction takes place Jan 13-20 at WestWorld, with 39 hours of live coverage on SPEED. For more information about the event, see Barrett-Jackson.com.
Bob Golfen, Automotive Editor for SPEED.com, is a veteran auto writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, with a passion for collector cars, car culture and the automotive lifestyle. SPEED.com fans can email Bob Golfen at
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