1946 Talbot-Lago T26 Record Cabriolet

101016roadFrance

Engine: 4.5L inline-six twin-cam hemi, three Zenith carburettors (Grand Sport spec), approx. 20 bhp above standard output

Talbot-Lago T26 Record chassis 101016, powered by the 4.5-litre twin-cam six-cylinder engine developed by Anthony Lago and Carlo Marchetti during the Second World War, was first exhibited at the 1946 Paris Salon. Its early ownership is untraced, though an engine-bay plaque identifies a Lyon-based Georges Brun as a possible original owner. The car has since passed through several documented Swiss and German owners, receiving a comprehensive restoration and engine upgrades at some point during its Swiss tenure.

Ownership

—Auction sale
Sold €146,625 (≈ $161K)
RM Sotheby's catalogue lot →
1991 →Private sale
Erich Traber
partial documentation
Acquired the car in California and relocated it to Switzerland; a restoration was carried out during the Swiss ownership period, likely including the fitment of triple Zenith carburettors and chromed trunk-lid hinges.
2007 → 2011Acquisition unknown
Paul Meyer
partial documentation
Based in Meggen, Switzerland; invested over CHF 55,000 in mechanical and related improvements during this tenure.
2011 → 2013Acquisition unknown
Werner Holm
partial documentation
Based in Hamburg; the car was subsequently offered for sale by Stefan Heidenreich in 2013.
→ 2013Acquisition unknown
Stefan Heidenreich
partial documentation
Listed the car for sale in 2013; role may have been as an intermediary or dealer rather than a long-term custodian.
2013 →Private sale
Swiss collector
partial documentation
Purchased the car when it returned to Switzerland following the 2013 sale; current owner at time of cataloguing.
Date unknown
Georges Brun
partial documentation
Address recorded as 10 Avenue de la Republique, Lyon; possibly the original purchaser, documented by a plaque in the engine bay.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

2007
Mechanical
Mechanical and other work costing in excess of CHF 55,000 was undertaken while the car was owned by Paul Meyer in Meggen, Switzerland.
—
Restoration
A comprehensive restoration was carried out during the car's time in Switzerland; the quality of the work remains in excellent condition at the time of cataloguing.
Likely contemporaneous with modifications to the engine and trunk lid; precise date unknown but occurred after 1991.
—
Modification
The engine was likely retrofitted with three Zenith carburettors matching the T26 Grand Sport specification, yielding an estimated 20 bhp increase, and extended chromed hinges were fitted to the trunk lid.
Believed to have been carried out during the Swiss restoration period, though exact timing is unconfirmed.

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