1936 Talbot T120 Cabriolet dUsine in Monterey, California

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.