In 1952, the Grand Prix-derived short-wheelbase Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport chassis with transverse leaf-front suspension was quietly dropped. To create a new car, Anthony Lago redesigned, lightened, and shortened the existing Lago Record passenger car chassis to a wheelbase of 2.90 meters. It was a good choice, as its independent front coil-spring suspension had excellent road manners and sporting driving qualities.

The magnificent six-cylinder T26 engine was given three inverted Solex carburetors but otherwise left alone, as it was already one of the most powerful and strongest passenger car engines in the world. Power was up by 20 horsepower to 210 at 4,500 rpm. On these gratifying underpinnings, a slinky factory body was mounted to a design by Carlo Delaisse, who can be seen as a French Giovanni Michelotti.

The new model was named the T26 GSL, or Grand Sport Longue, and made its debut at the Paris Salon in October 1953. It was a very elegant car in the French manner, but not a commercial success, and the model was short-lived: production ended in late 1954 or early 1955, a mere 12–18 months after its debut. Somewhere between 19 and 21 T26 GSLs were built, of which only 11 to 13 survive. As the Lago Record was out of production by then, these were the last automobiles to be fitted with the great T26 engine. The passing of the big Talbot marked the end of an era in French luxury car manufacture.

For more information please contact Jonathon Webb on +44(0)7442 897760 or on jonathon@carbarn.co.uk

About Carbarn

Car Barn by Aston Workshop is an independent classic, sports and prestige car specialist located on Red Row Estate, an idyllic 37 acre venue set in the North East countryside. Red Row is located in County Durham, only 2 miles away from Beamish Museum, one of the North’s major tourist attractions.  Our car showrooms share our beautiful location with our sister company The Black Horse Beamish pub, restaurant and hotel. We offer a wide variety of used vehicles for sale in our pair of showrooms including special editions, low mileage examples, supercars and high performance models by Aston Martin, Lotus, Ferrari, Porsche, Bentley, Morgan, McLaren, Lagonda, Jaguar, Ariel and Caterham. As a well established dealer we typically we have around 80 cars on site at any given time and our showrooms are one of the most impressive luxury car collections in the North East of England.  

Our specialist classic and sports car service, repair and diagnosis workshop at Carbarn is staffed by experienced local mechanics with a wide range of skills and diagnostic equipment. If your specialist car has developed a fault please call by and we will be happy to give a no obligation estimate. In addition to annual or routine servicing and maintenance we also undertake classic car restorations including all aspects of chassis repair, engine tuning, paint and body work.

We are one of the North East’s few specialist classic, sports and prestige car buyers who will buy your vehicle directly or offer sale or return and part exchange from our showroom. We are constantly seeking used stock.  If you find yourself thinking the time has come to sell my car, be it classic sports or prestige, and you want to deal with a well established local north east company please contact us to discuss our best price.  We provide a more personal and flexible approach than car buying websites or auctions and as a classic and vintage car specialist are happy to discuss cars which have been in long term storage, off the road, SORN or vehicles which are otherwise described as barn finds.

We have an in house transport service which offers collection, storage and delivery facilities and Carbarn are happy to purchase used classic, sports and luxury cars from across the North East region and the wider UK.

Our experienced team are also pleased to help and advise if you are a collector or seeking to purchase a car specifically for investment purposes.

The benefits of buying and selling with us include:

• Nationwide collection and delivery service on our own covered transporters
• Cars which are prepared by technicians working exclusively on classic and sports cars
• Our own warranty programme
• A comprehensive customer service which truly works for the duration of ownership
• The confidence of dealing with a leading independent specialist established over 30 years
• Finance available on all stock including classic cars