French Elegance – (the 1937 Talbot Lago)

The 2007 Rodeo Drive annual Concours D'Elegance

Note –

The wealthy rarely bought automobiles "off the rack" in the 1930s and 1940s. They considered their cars not only a mode of transport, but also a highly visible means of expression and cared a great deal about the look and feel of the finished product. The demands of these clients inspired the best French coachbuilders to create a distinctive style that was both sensuous and aerodynamic. Considered the most fashionable of all French coachbuilders, Figoni et Falaschi created some of their most radical coachwork on the powerful Talbot Lago chassis. Named after Major Antonio Lago who gained control of the company in 1933, Talbot Lago production cars of the late-1930s were little different from the firm’s race-winning competition cars and were an ideal platform on which to mount exotic coachwork. Among Figoni et Falaschi’s most flamboyant designs was this teardrop coupe, which could reach a top speed of over 115 miles per hour thanks to its aerodynamic form.

This is a 1937 Talbot Lago T150-C-SS from the Nethercutt Collection in Sylmar, California.

Next Page >

If you wish to use any of these photos for commercial purposes I assume you'll discuss that with me. And should you choose to download any of these images and use them invoking the 'fair use" provisions of the Copyright Act of 1976, please provide credit, and, on the web, a link back this site.

Technical Note:

Most of these photographs were shot with a Nikon D70 - using lens (1) AF-S Nikkor 18-70 mm 1:35-4.5G ED, or (2) AF Nikkor 70-300mm telephoto, or after 5 June 2006, (3) AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor, 55-200 mm f/4-5.6G ED. They were modified for web posting using Adobe Photoshop 7.0.  Earlier photography was done with a Sony Mavica digital still camera (MVC-FD-88) with built-in digital zoom.

All text and photos, unless otherwise noted, Copyright © 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 - Alan M. Pavlik