Lot 154: 1937 Talbot 105 Vanden Plas Tourer - Coachwork by Clement Talbot

Talbot and the Earl of Shrewsbury backed the company formed by DM Weigel to sell the French made Clément in Britain as the Clément-Talbot although by 1905 Adolph Clément's name was left out. British designed and built Talbots soon established a reputation for well-made, fast and efficient cars. In the years leading up to the First World War a large and varied range of cars were produced, although the amount of French components is now unknown. The use of French parts had ceased completely by 1914.British owned Alexandre Darracq of Paris took over both Talbot and Sunbeam in 1919 to form Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq (STD). The Talbot influence came more to the fore when Talbot's Chief Engineer Georges Roesch developed a range of cars in the early 1920's. The lack of sales in the mid 1920's nearly brought about financial disaster but the 14/45 of 1926 began a new period of performance for the company with Anthony Blight winning many trophies in the mid 1960's with his 105.Among the many improvements for the 105 model were engine capacity enlargement to 3 litres with new design of cylinder head with slanted valves for improved engine breathing, fitting of Luvax adjustable dampers and Roesch designed pre-selector gearbox made the 105 one of the most sophisticated British touring motor cars one could buy at the time. Chassis 4096 is indeed one of the very last production 105's and as such incorporated all of the latest refinements available.This original Talbot 105 still retains its Clement Talbot Ltd. Open Touring coachwork with sporting cutaway driver's door, fold-flat windscreen and fitted aero screens, indeed a most handsome and sporting motor car. Documentation shows this rare Talbot in the early 1960's was sold by the then English owners to an American surgeon, Dr Lyddon. After more than a decade of residing in the United States, the Talbot was found and purchased by the well known dealer Charles Howard who returned the car to the United Kingdom. When found by Howard, this rare Talbot was still complete and original in unrestored condition. Passing the car on to Mr Richard Davies, who entrusted well known restorers Rees Brothers of Aldershot to undertake a complete chassis-up restoration. This restoration has been well documented in a photograph album form, commencing when purchased in unrestored condition, stripped down to bare chassis rails and then as rebuilt to concourse condition. Following the restoration the 105 passed to well known Talbot expert Cecil Schumacher who did additional fettling work for his use in Continental Touring, details of which are itemised in the car's history file. A superb and well restored original example of the fabled Talbot 105 is undoubtedly a most desirable and exhilarating pre war sports car and few would be able to argue that in its day it was one of the most sophisticated and well engineered British Sports Cars of the 1930's. Described by its owners as a delight on the road with light steering and a fast and comfortable turn of speed. Accompanying the vehicle is an extensive history file, bills, photo album, sundry Talbot documents, past and current MoT's and of course DVLA registration documents.