Description
H&H Classic Auction @ The Imperial War Museum, Duxford/ Cambridgeshire
9th October, 2024 13:00
1938 Talbot-Lago T4 Minor
Estimate
£12, 000 - £16, 000
Registration No: 433 UYF
Chassis No: 95296
MOT: Exempt
The most affordable entry point into exclusive Talbot-Lago ownership
Extensively restored in France during the 1990s
Imported into the UK in 2014
Known ownership since 1955
Due to the bankruptcy and break-up of the Anglo-French motor manufacturer Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq in 1935, an enterprising Venitian engineer by the name of Tony Lago would purchase the French part of the business in 1936. Lago had built much of his motoring industry experience in England during the 1920s and wasted no time in replacing the pre-bankruptcy models with several elegant new models to the newly found ‘Talbot-Lago’ company. These new designs were at first lightweight sporting six-cylinder models designed by fellow Italian ex-pat Walter Becchia and included the Talbot Baby, Talbot Cadette and the Talbot Major.
The launch of the four-cylinder T4 Minor at the Paris Auto Show 1937 represented something of a departure for Talbot-Lago and allowed the company to compete within a slighter lower down price bracket. Taking its chassis from the existing Talbot Baby, a new sports saloon body was designed which resembled the larger Cadette and Major. The 2, 323cc overhead valve engine was fed by a single Stromberg carburettor and produced 62hp at 4, 000 rpm. To keep things upmarket, the Minor was only offered in Right Hand Drive, which was in keeping with most of the more expensive French cars. Unfortunately, by 1940 the Talbot factory would be converted to use for the war effort, spelling the end for the Minor.
Understood to have been built in 1938, this Talbot T4 Minor is one of only around 100 examples to have left the Suresnes factory. Most likely due to WWII, the car has lost most of its earliest history, however, ownership records date back to 1955 when it was in the custodianship with a Monsieur Phillipe who owned the vehicle until 1964 before passing it to another owner who would own it until 1993, when it was offered to a Monsieur Roland who would carry out a comprehensive overhaul. The car would later be exhibited at the Paris Retromobile show in 2004 and offered for sale and purchased by a British gentleman in 2014. Now registered as ‘233 UYF’ it entered the custodianship of the vendor in 2015.
The vendor has kept the Talbot-Lago in fine fettle throughout his ownership. Upon inspection, the engine fired into life with relative ease and the vendor has advised that the overall condition of the car is ‘very good’, with the paint appearing in remarkably good condition despite age-related marks and the gorgeous duo-tone leather and patterned moquette interior also presenting extremely well. Now to be offered for sale as one of only two believed to be in the UK this rare T4 Minor is offered with a history file including some correspondence between previous owners, the UK V5C, some operating instructions and invoices for recent chrome work and a battery within the vendor’s ownership.
