Talbot-Lago T26C – Widescreen Gallery

By Marcel Hundscheid/Speed-O-Graphica.com

Take a few minutes to get to know this post-war Talbot-Lago T26C Grand Prix car with this widescreen gallery from Marcel Hyndscheid of Speed-O-Graphica.

The Talbot-Lago T26C was a Grand Prix racer from the late 40s, designed by Antonio Fanco Lago who was an Italain engineer and motor-industry entrepreneur. Lago bought the French branch of Automobiles Talbot and founded the marque Talbot-Lago during the worldwide depression.

One of Lago’s designs was the T26C from 1948, a single seater using a straight 6 cylinder 4.4 litre engine. The car debuted at the 1948 Monaco Grand Prix but didn’t make it to the chequered flag.

However at the following event at Monthléry, Louis Rosier, Pierre Levegh and Yves Cabantous scored a 1-2-3 for Talbot-Lago. Rosier scored the first major victory for the brand in 1949 at the Belgian Grand Prix. Besides several victories in non-championship events, the car was prepared for the 1950 Le Mans 24 Hours, where it would be driven by Rosier and his son.

The original engine produced 260 bhp and had a top speed of 270 km/h. For the seasons that followed, several upgrades were introduced including twin sparks, a stronger crankshaft, 50HN Zenith downdraft carburetors which offered 280 bhp. Talbot-Lago scored two major victories in 1949, improving to end the 1950 season with three.