Rare and Beautiful Coachbuilt Talbot-Lago T150C SS ‘Teardrop’.
Among the world's top three Concours d'Elegance, the Hampton Court Palace event is known for showcasing exquisite vintage automobiles from throughout the world. Based on the remarkable Talbot-Lago T150C SS, one of the most stunning French coachbuilt vehicles will make an appearance for the 2024 edition.
With its revolutionary hemispherical combustion chamber in its four-litre engine, the T150, designed by the brilliant Antonio Franco Lago, was among the most cutting-edge and rapid vehicles of its day. During the 1934 Bois de Boulogne Concours d'Elegance, Lago displayed three brand-new automobiles in red, white, and blue. Three of the drivers were top female racers, and they were all dressed identically.
Lago kept coming up with new ways to advertise his vehicles, and although sales were slow at first, they picked up steam once he pushed a new hemi-head T150 to 100 miles per hour at Montlhèry, which did wonders for the marque's image. The more nimble and lighter T150C was unveiled in 1937 and went on to win a number of important races, including the British Tourist Trophy and the Marseilles Classic.
An important turning point for Talbot-Lago came in 1937 with the release of the more nimble and lighter T150C, which went on to win a number of important races, such as the British Tourist Trophy and the Marseilles Classic. At the Paris-Nice Criterium de Tourisme the same year, Lago also introduced the T150C SS, a road-going variant of the T150C race vehicle. Built to meet the 1936 ACF GP rules, which allowed sports cars instead of single-seaters, this vehicle was given the 'Teardrop' coachwork by Figoni et Falaschi and became one of the most beautiful and quickest vehicles on the road.
Figoni et Falaschi, the illustrious French carrosserie, bodied the vast majority of the thirty roadgoing T150C SS vehicles, including the one scheduled to make an appearance at the 2024 Concours d'Elegance.
Following two previous revisions, the 'New York' model Teardrop Talbot-Lago was shown at the 1938 New York Auto Salon. The term "New York" refers to the fact that the design flows flawlessly from front to rear. Since its debut, this Lago creation—which drew inspiration from the kinetic art of Geo Ham—has been held in the highest esteem as a masterpiece of automotive design. This automobile was the sole one out of fourteen that did not have a sunroof; instead, for air circulation inside, the two windscreens opened outward on little ratchet winders that were operated from the dashboard.
'Suicide Freddie' was the first owner of this vehicle; his penchant for sailing, motor racing, skiing, and bobsleigh was a perfect match for the sport and the car. There is no better vehicle for his nocturnal excursions around 1930s France, as he divides his time between the glitz of Paris and the French Riviera.
A few years down the road, Tommy Lee would acquire the Teardrop and bring it to Los Angeles. Lee had four Talbot-Lagos in the 1940s and raced them on dry lakebeds and smaller tracks like the Davis Track. Renowned industrial designer Brooks Stevens ended up purchasing the vehicle when Lee passed away. Before deciding to retire the vehicle to "concours life" while it was still in good condition, Stevens took it racing twice, notably at Watkins Glen in 1957.
The automobile was meticulously restored to its original specs during its subsequent ownership, including reversing a red colour swap that had happened when it was owned by Stevens. As a result, it is now considered one of the most genuine and authentic examples of its type.
At the Concours of Elegance, this Talbot-Lago is one of seventy exquisite automobiles that owners from across the world have graciously agreed to show. Several special features are located outside the main Concours display. These include the Levitt Concours, which is devoted to the most enthusiastic female owners; the 30UNDER30, which honours enthusiastic owners under the age of 30; and the Club Trophy, which compiles the finest examples of models from the top car clubs in the country.
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