Lot #142 - 1955 Talbot Lago T15 Baby

1955 Talbot-Lago T-15 "Baby"
Coachwork by Barou
Chassis no. 122022

2,690cc OHV Twin Camshaft Inline Four-Cylinder Engine
Dual Side Draft Carburetors
120bhp at 4,500rpm
4-Speed Wilson Pre-Select Gearbox
Independent Front Suspension, Rear Live Axle with Semi-Elliptic Leaf Springs
4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes

*Extremely rare Talbot "Baby"
*Distinctive one-off coachwork by Jean Barou
*Carefully preserved and largely unrestored
*One of approximately 70 surviving T-15s

THE TALBOT BABY

As peace returned to Europe in the wake of World War II, Talbot-Lago was eager to get back to the business of building fast cars. In the late 1930s, the firm had risen to the top of the French motoring industry, alongside Delahaye and Delage. Talbot-Lago earned its stellar reputation through motor racing, and their road-going sports cars were often thinly disguised racing cars dressed in spectacular bodies by France's premier coachbuilders. As with nearly every car manufacturer in the world, Talbot-Lago's early post war models were essentially freshened-up pre-war designs. Unfortunately, their market had dwindled significantly, along with the company's finances.

Talbot-Lago hoped sales of the revised T-15 "Baby" would shore up the bottom line and support their ultimate six-cylinder models. The new T-15 used a four-cylinder engine with twin high-mounted lateral camshafts and hemispherical combustion chambers, a similar setup to the contemporary Riley engine. On paper, the Baby should have put Talbot-Lago on par with more affordable competition such as Jaguar, but the heavy saloon bodies stunted performance, and the company could not get costs low enough to appeal to buyers. Talbot-Lago struggled to regain its foothold and the legendary marque faded into history.

THE CAR OFFERED

Chassis 122022 is one of approximately 70 surviving Talbot Baby T-15 chassis, and it wears distinct one-off coachwork by Barou. The handsome slab-sided body is clean and modern and calls to mind contemporary designs from Graber or Pininfarina. This chassis is believed to have been displayed at the Paris Salon and was later acquired and bodied by Jean Barou and used to promote his small carrosserie. Early in the car's life, it's understood that Barou revised the roof to its current configuration. A Talbot dealer named Louis Cremer purchased the car in 1957 and retained it for a decade until 1967, when Mr. Dupond purchased the car. During Dupond's ownership, the aluminum head was replaced using a new-old-stock unit. Mr. Dupond retained the car until he sold it back in 1977 to Mr. Cremer, who used it mainly as a showpiece at a dealership.

Currently showing just over 22,000 kilometers, this Talbot has never been restored and is carefully preserved. It features Robergel wire wheels, hydraulic brakes, a Wilson preselector gearbox, and the boot lid, doors, and bonnet are made from lightweight aluminum. The paint appears to be original, with minor areas of dimpling and heavy patina on the brightwork. It is a fascinating example of this exceptionally rare postwar Talbot-Lago, suitable for preservation-class display, or as the basis of a straightforward refurbishment.