1939 Talbot-Lago T23 Cabriolet
French collector's registration
Serial number : 93261
- One of the most beautiful factory convertibles
- High-quality restoration
- Ex Dupont
At the beginning of the 20th century, Frenchman Adolphe Clément (builder of the Clément-Bayard models) and British Charles Chetwynd-Talbot (president of the British automobile commercial syndicate) decided to join forces to found a new Franco-British brand: Clément-Talbot.
From 1922 onwards, the now completely French firm was called Talbot, and decided to enter motor racing. The company was highly successful in France (ACF Grand Prix), England (RAC Grand Prix) and Italy (Coppa Montenero).
Despite these successes, the company ran into serious financial problems, and Italian industrialist Anthony Lago took over the brand in the mid-30s. Anthony Lago, now head of the Société des Automobiles Talbot, considered that participation in motor racing and the construction of leisure vehicles were inseparable. In his view, cars designed for competition should have a sports version that was accessible to customers.
As a result, the automaker became renowned for its racing-derived powertrains, as was the case with the T23.
Launched in 1938, the T23 was the epitome of luxury at the time. This gracefully shaped car was also as sporty as Talbot wanted its models to be. Its 6-cylinder, 3,996 cm3, 115 hp engine could reach speeds of up to 180 km/h. The car we are offering for sale has no details of its first owner, although its first registration number would have been 888 W1. This is how Mr. Dupont (ex-president of the Talbot Club) is said to have discovered it as a wreck, next to another in the same condition.
Both were white. In 1985, it appeared in the possession of Monsieur Mimieux.
Between 1990 and 2002, it was owned by Mr. Lelièvre (with registration number 519 CYH 77), who then sold it to Mr. Fabre on January 17, 2003.