Talbot Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport History

After the Second World War, Talbot-Lago was among the first manufacturers to relaunch genuine high-performance road cars with the T26 Grand Sport, powered by a 4.5-litre straight-six. Bodied by the leading coachbuilders of the day, it was an exclusive hand-built exotic positioned at the very top of the post-war market.

Roughly 32 T26 Grand Sport chassis were built between 1947 and 1953 (sources vary; some cite up to 36), most on the short 2.65-metre wheelbase. The closely related T26C racing cars were also competitive in this era — most notably a Talbot-Lago won the 1950 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, the costs of Grand Prix and sports-car racing and a shrinking market for ultra-expensive luxury cars steadily drained the company; Antonio Lago kept Talbot going until the factory closed in 1958.