Photo: Mecum
The European history of car making is a complicated one. Unlike the industrialized approach to car building on the American continent, most European cars were hand-built well until the half of the 20th century.
This was possible thanks to a variety of factors, but was due mostly to racers and their coachbuilding partners. For decades, it was not uncommon for someone to come up with the underpinnings of a car, and someone else to design the bodywork. And that allowed for the arrival of very elegant, yet powerful machines.
Back in the years before and after the Second World War, the French where at the top of the list in this segment. Leading them along were a number of companies, including one that was to become known as Talbot-Lago. As most of the European luxury cars of that time (read 1930s-1950s), Talbot machines where stunning in design, and fearsome in engineering.
One of the company's main models, and the one considered to be the first high-performance, luxury car built after the war, is the T26 Grand Sport. The name, which at the time was probably better suited for a Red Army tank, was introduced in 1947 with awesome performance for its time: 190 hp, and a top speed of 200 kph (124 mph).
There were two variants of the model built, one on a shorter wheelbase, and the other on a slightly longer one. Both had bodies crafted by French coachbuilder Saoutchik (over the years, Talbot-Lago also worked with Franay, Figoni, and Stabilimenti Farina).
The T26 we have in the gallery above is part of the second category, the one with a longer wheelbase. It is a 1951 model year, the second to be built on that particular longer platform, and styled in such a way by Saoutchik that it is believed to be the only one of its kind.
The car has been restored twice over the course of its life. It is now awaiting a buyer as part of the Mecum Gallery lot.
Back in the years before and after the Second World War, the French where at the top of the list in this segment. Leading them along were a number of companies, including one that was to become known as Talbot-Lago. As most of the European luxury cars of that time (read 1930s-1950s), Talbot machines where stunning in design, and fearsome in engineering.
One of the company's main models, and the one considered to be the first high-performance, luxury car built after the war, is the T26 Grand Sport. The name, which at the time was probably better suited for a Red Army tank, was introduced in 1947 with awesome performance for its time: 190 hp, and a top speed of 200 kph (124 mph).
There were two variants of the model built, one on a shorter wheelbase, and the other on a slightly longer one. Both had bodies crafted by French coachbuilder Saoutchik (over the years, Talbot-Lago also worked with Franay, Figoni, and Stabilimenti Farina).
The T26 we have in the gallery above is part of the second category, the one with a longer wheelbase. It is a 1951 model year, the second to be built on that particular longer platform, and styled in such a way by Saoutchik that it is believed to be the only one of its kind.
The car has been restored twice over the course of its life. It is now awaiting a buyer as part of the Mecum Gallery lot.
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