1934 Talbot 75 Sports Saloon

“ Charming 30's Saloon benefiting from £20,000 in recent expenditure through Pace Historics ”
What an example this is and one of only 142 ever thought to exist. Given its 90 year history it can be forgiven the odd patch of tatty paintwork, especially in light of everything else it has going for it. Not least amongst these is over £70,000 of investment resulting in the engrossing example we are proudly offering here today.

Background
For those that are yet to forgive and forget the decidedly underwhelming Talbot Sunbeam of the late 1970’s or the accompanying TV advert entreating one to “put a Talbot Sunbeam in your life,” it is interesting to find that Talbot enjoyed quite a blue blooded beginning. Co-founder Charles Chetwynd-Talbot was actually the 20th Earl of Shrewsbury and his French business partner, Adolphe Clément-Bayard, an accomplished entrepreneur and self-made man. They founded their eponymous firm, Clément-Talbot, in 1902 with cars initially being made in Ladbroke Grove in Kensington, London from French sourced parts.

Following the First World War the founders and investors sold the business to A Durracq and Co, another French car manufacturer of the period. Durracq would combine Sunbeam and Talbot to create S. T. D. Motors as a mini motoring conglomerate. By 1935 S.T.D. was in a state of financial collapse only to be rescued by the Rootes Brothers. By 1938 the Rootes Brothers had created Sunbeam-Talbot limited.

Prior to the intervention of the Rootes Brothers Talbot were known for refined continental-flavoured sporting cars. These were generally considered to have very good road manners, high-speed touring ability, advanced engineering and understated class. One such exemplar of these traits was the Talbot 75 Sports Saloon. A design from the pen of uber-designer Georges Roesch, the 75 sat below the esteemed 90 and 105 models but shared all of their engineering prowess and desirability. The 75 was prized in its day for its long-distance touring abilities. Cruising speeds of 70mph were easily attainable in an era when 50mph was at the upper end of what most cars were capable of. The 75’s top speed was nearer 85 – 90mph dependent on the frontal area of its bespoke body. Around 2,700 75 were built in total but the total tally of BA75 Special Sports Saloons made is thought to be just 142.

Overview
This charming example of the pre-Rootes Talbot oeuvre is indeed one of that miniscule cohort of BA75 Special Sports Saloons. Such is the breadth and depth of the accompanying paperwork that we know rather a lot about this rare and remarkable 1930’s sporting saloon.

The car was built in February 1935 and delivered to dealers Henry Garner of Birmingham the following month. By late June the car had been sold to Mr Herbert Steeds of Edgbaston. Amazingly, the car remained within the wider Steeds family until 2010. At that stage it was sold to its fifth owner (the previous four all being members of the Steeds family). At that stage the car had covered 40,054 recorded miles. Within months it was with its sixth owner, Mr Hack, who bought it from Barons Auctions for £26,000. Mr Hack, and his son, would retain the Talbot until January 2025 when it was sold at the Bonhams Beaulieu sale.

During its fascinating history the Talbot benefitted from much dillgent care and attention. Shortly before leaving the care of the Steed family its bodywork was restored by Hightone Restorations. Under Mr Hack’s stewardship over £50,000 was spent rebuilding the engine, gearbox and suspension. The front seats were also reupholstered during his tenure. With his health declining only around another 2,000 miles or so was added by the Hacks. Due to this sparing use the 75 was fully recommissioned by the current owner in 2025. The work was undertaken by Pace Historics at a cost of around £20,000 which is fully documented. With over £70,000 having been spent on this 1930’s sports saloon since 2010, this represents a too good to miss opportunity to acquire this Anglo-French rarity for a fraction of what has been spent on it.

Estimate: £22,000 - £27,000

View The Current Bid Price HERE