Lot 233: 1957 Talbot Lago Dupont Barquette

It is a common fantasy among motoring enthusiasts to drive a Grand Prix car or a Le Mans winner on the road owners of the Talbots built by Antonio Lago realised that dream because every car which Lago built until the mid-1950s was directly related to Talbot's competition models, which won Grands Prix and won Le Mans. Antonio Lago acquired Talbot in 1935 and, in four years, propelled it from a respected marque to a great one which was a favourite with coachbuilders such as Figoni and Falaschi. After the war it continued to make some of the world's finest cars and production soon reached over 400 a year. The handsome Record saloon, introduced in 1946, had hydraulic brakes and a box-section chassis, with independent front suspension of a similar layout to the competition models. It was, however, the six-cylinder, seven bearing, engine which set the model apart. With 170bhp and masses of torque, it was an exceptional unit for its day and the future of Talbot looked assured until the French government imposed massive taxes which caused the great tradition of Grandes Routieres (and their attendant coachbuilders) to disappear virtually overnight, although Talbot, the last survivor, soldiered on until 1959 when it was incorporated into Simca which in turn was soon to be bought by Chrysler.After the closing down of the Talbot Lago works in Suresnes, professional French racing driver Victor Grignard bought the five chassis remaining in the factory. Three of these were powered by Maserati engines and only two by the BMW V8 with a displacement of 2.5 litre. Unfortunately Monsieur Grignard passed away shortly after the purchase. His daughter then sold the two BMW engined chassis to a textile industrialist from the North of France, Dominique Dupont. Dupont was not only a respected Talbot collector but actually president of the Talbot Club. One of the two cars were kept by his brother while Dupont proceeded to have chassis 140-077B fitted with a body designed by French coachbuilders Pichon et Parat. He commissioned ex Talbot factory engineers to built the body for his car following the coachbuilders' design.The result was and still is a beautiful open 2-seater 'Barquette' body, which, mated to the easily maintainable BMW V8 provided eager performance, supplying approximately 150 bhp to the rear wheels. A 4-speed ZF gearbox is responsible for conveying the power to the differential. Some years later the car changed hands again and, now in the possession of Christophe Ladriere, was campaigned at a number of historic race events in France and Italy, among them the ACP Perigueux, the Rally Mont Blanc, the Giro di Sicilia Storico in Italy and the Grand Prix de Provence.Since 1995 the car resided in the Musee de l'Automobile in Cannes until a well respected German collector bought this last of the Talbot Lago Barchettas in 1997.It is appropriately finished in French racing blue and is reported to be ready for most if not all of the major events in the classic car enthusiast's calendar, most notably the Mille Miglia. Supplied with FIA papers.La dernire Talbot Lago Barquette construit, la legerete de la carrosserie en combinaison avec le moteur BMW V8 en fait une voiture tres vive et tres rapide. Une voiture facile d'entretien elle donnera beaucoup de joie et de plaisir a son proprietaire. Une barquette reconnue officiellement et prte pour toutes les epreuves historiques. Avec des papiers FIA.