Description
To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' Paris event, 28 January 2026.
€800, 000 - €1, 200, 000 EUR
Three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans entrant; raced by Guy Mairesse and Pierre Meyrat to 2nd on its 1951 debut
Started the 1952 Mille Miglia; driven by Jean Blanc and Pierre Tabart
Boasts an impressive racing record with seven victories and seven podium finishes
Restored in the 1990s by then owner Robert Teyssier under the guidance of Talbot-Lago historian Pierre Abeillon
Eligible for a variety of historic racing events including Le Mans Classic and the Mille Miglia
Please note if this vehicle is exported outside of the EU an export license will be required.
Veuillez noter que si ce véhicule est exporté hors de l'UE, une licence d'exportation sera nécessaire.
As referenced in French historian Pierre Abeillon’s book Talbot Lago de Course, chassis number 110059 was one of a handful of T26 Grand Sports built for competition. Sold new to French trucking magnate Guy Mairesse in 1951, this car’s underpinnings stemmed from a 1939 monoplace centrale first raced by Raymond Mays. Elements of the chassis and running gear, which differentiate from its sister cars, were discovered on this T26 Grand Sport during its 1990s restoration.
Mairesse debuted his new Talbot-Lago in the 1951 24 Hours of Le Mans. Partnering with Pierre Meyrat, the duo finished an impressive 2nd overall. Purchased in 1952 by Parisian garage proprietor Jean Blanc, chassis 110059 went on to claim back-to-back victories. Blanc then entered the 1952 Mille Miglia, co-driving with his mechanic Pierre Tabart. To meet the entry requirements, ponton-style wings were fitted. The French duo lined up in Brescia in the fastest group, just behind the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing of Rudi Caracciola. The Talbot-Lago's high-torque engine suited the twisty Italian roads but electrical issues forced an early retirement.
Blanc raced throughout 1952 and, for the 1953 season, commissioned a barchetta-style body like the Talbot-Lago factory team cars. It first appeared with the new skin in April 1953 in the Coupe de Vitesse at Monthléry. Competing through 1953 and 1954, Blanc entered the 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans but was too slow to be classified. Having secured various 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-place finishes, Blanc ventured to South America for the 1956 1000 Kilometres of Buenos Aires but failed to finish.
Sold in 1957, the Talbot-Lago was a resident in the famous collections of Pierre Bardinon, Fred Chandon, and René Mauries. In 1984, Robert Teyssier purchased the car and with the assistance of Abeillon, the duo returned chassis 110059 to its 1951 24 Hours of Le Mans configuration.
Acquired by the consignor in 2013, this T26 Grand Sport is one of the great post-war Talbot-Lagos. It has featured at the Le Mans Classic and Spa Classic, and is the ideal vehicle for those seeking an entry into the upper echelons of the historic motor racing scene. To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys. com/ auctions/ pa26/.
