Vehicle Description
Chassis No. 85598
Following the dissolution of the Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq concern in
1934, Anthony Lago purchased the Talbot factory at Suresnes outside
Paris and was determined to transform the marque's image.
Rebranding it as Talbot-Lago, he collaborated with Joseph Figoni on
fresh designs, debuting a stunning cabriolet at the Paris Salon
that October, setting the tone for future Talbots.
Lago's new four-liter T150 C, or Lago Speciale as it was known,
featured a secretly developed chassis and became the basis for
variants like the four-liter T23 and three-liter T120. The cars
enjoyed advanced specifications for the era, including a single
overhead cam inline six-cylinder engine, a Wilson pre-selector
transmission, and independent front suspension, which offered
nimble handling and refined road manners. Not simply a sporting
road car, Talbot-Lagos proved more than capable at the highest
levels of motorsports, most notably winning the 1937 French Grand
Prix. With its combination of wonderful designs, superb
craftsmanship, and motorsports pedigree, Talbot-Lago rose to be one
of Europe's premier marques by the onset of World War II.
Finished in striking black, this T120 Sport is powered by a
3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine rated at 90 horsepower,
featuring a Zenith Stromberg carburetor and a four-speed
pre-selector transmission. The interior is trimmed with black
leather, providing a rich contrast against the high-gloss walnut
dashboard housing the Jaeger instrumentation and a VDO tachometer.
The car is furnished with a tonneau cover for added protection when
the black canvas folding soft top with matching side curtains is
not in use. With seating for up to four passengers and generous
room for luggage, the car is ideally suited for touring use on any
of the numerous vintage rallies and tours for which it is eligible,
including the California Mille and Colorado Grand.
Imported to the U.S. in early 2025, the car remains a wonderfully
presented example today. With any Talbot being a rare and highly
sought-after car, this sporting T120 is no exception. Seldom seen
in the U.S., it would be warmly welcomed on any concours show field
or touring event as one of the most dashing French cars of the era,
with its splendid bodywork.
