Last updated on October 3, 2023
Today’s car is a 1947 Talbot-Lago T26 Record Cabriolet owned by Ray and Bonnie Kinney. I photographed this “Best in Show” award winning car at the San Marino Motor Classic, that is held at Lacy Park, located in San Marino, CA.. The body is finished in metallic sky blue and fenders are deep midnight blue and the interior is cream with blue piping and the carpeting is dark blue. It is powered by a 170 hp, 4.5 liter, inline 6 engine with twin in head cams, hemispherical combustion chambers and twin Stromberg EX 32 carburetors. Mated to a Wilson 4-Speed Preselector manual transmission. Slowing this beauty down are drum hydraulic brakes in all 4-corners. It has independent front suspension with coil-over shocks. The rear suspension live axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs. As a side note Tony Lago had personally helped design the Wilson 4-Speed Preselector transmission in 1933.
This car was formerly owned by movie director George Sidney, who led the production of such films as Showboat, Bye Bye Birdy, Viva Las Vegas and Anchors Aweigh. This car recently sold at RM Sothebys Monterey 2022 for just under $3 million. This award winning car also won Best In Show at the 2023 Arizona Concours D’Elegance.
The T26s were produced from 1947 – 1955 with a total of around 750 of various body styles that including sedans, coupes, and cabriolets. Total production in 1947 was 155 units. This is one of a very few surviving cabriolets in existence. It has a published top speed of 124 mph with a 0-60 mph time of 10 seconds.
The T26 Record was a high-end luxury car known for its elegant styling and powerful performance. Designed by the celebrated Giuseppe Figoni positioned on the long-wheelbase version of the advanced T26 Record chassis and manufactured with his business partner Ovidio Falaschi.
This is an amazing example of an original restored post war car that was complete refurbishment by RM Auto Restoration in the early 2000s. What a magnificent car, or should I say automobile art, to exhibit at major Concours D’Elegance’s. Thank you for riding along. Frank
