1949 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport by Antem

As one of only three Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sports bodied by Antem, this extraordinary automobile represents the pinnacle of French post-war high-performance engineering. These exotic machines, powered by a 4.5-litre inline six-cylinder engine, were the ultimate high-performance grand routiers of their time — automobiles capable of serving a Grand Prix team while also achieving victory at Le Mans. This particular Grand Sport was commissioned by Michel-Paul Cavalier, a French industrialist and member of the Talbot-Lago board of directors. He later went on to hold a similar position at Ferrari. Given the close connection of its first owner to the highest levels of international motorsport, it is hardly surprising that this Grand Sport far exceeded the specifications of a standard road car. Only two Grand Sport road cars were built with a twin-spark cylinder head featuring twelve spark plugs and a full aluminium engine block derived directly from Talbot’s Grand Prix racing cars — and this example is one of them. The engine produces approximately 250 to 260 hp, making it around 60 to 70 hp more powerful than a standard T26 Grand Sport. It is the most powerful engine ever fitted to a Talbot-Lago road car. Further racing-derived features included a dry-sump lubrication system, high-compression pistons, a special exhaust system, a large oil cooler, and a Grand Prix braking system, underlining the vehicle’s close connection to Talbot’s competition program. The rolling chassis was fitted with an elegant coupé body by Antem, whose refined design was clearly inspired by contemporary Italian berlinettas, resulting in a rare and fascinating combination of French engineering and Italian elegance.