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Post #1 Sat, Jul 8, 3:36 PM |
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Richard Owen
It's Your Birt - 2023
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Chassis no. 93064 Engine no. 23294 Figoni no. 685 Estimate: Available Upon Request
Provenance
Winner of the Concours dElegance de lAuto in 1938
The only four liter T23 true Jeancart style teardrop coupe built
One of five Jeancart style cars built; one of four remaining.
Holder of a Certificate of Originality, signed by M. Claude Figoni.
Cherished and cared for by just four owners since the late 1940s.
Restored by French master coachbuilder Chapron
Chassis 93064: One of a Kind
In the flourishing artistic environment of prewar Paris, if you were a wealthy, youthful, fashionable Parisian resident at the end of the 1930s, you surely resided in one of the magnificent townhouses of the city center. Your residence was decorated with the most exquisite of custom designed furniture by Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann, one drank from custom made René Lalique glasses and the walls were adorned by works by the pre-eminent artists of the time including Pablo Picasso and Francis Picabia. Undoubtedly, such a modern thinking sportsman would have had the most fashionable French car of the period in front of his door, and there would have been nothing more appropriate than a Teardrop Coupe.
The Teardrops were all unique, each reflecting the tastes and wishes of its patron. Chassis no. 93064 may well be the most unique of all. It is the only example built on the four liter T23 chassis. Its wheelbase, at 2.95m, is some 30 cm, or 11.8 inches greater than the T150C-SS cars, but identical to the single Lago Speciale example, chassis 90034, which was sold by RM in August of 2005.
Although the T23 was hardly a long wheelbase chassis by the standards of coachbuilt automobiles, the effect of the added length on the Figoni tear drop coachwork is quite breathtaking. The execution of its design was so well done that the added length is not immediately obvious. The difference is mostly aft of the firewall, giving a longer body and tail. Additionally, it has a physical presence unlike many of its counterparts as its slightly wider track gives it a very balanced and sporting stance. The Jeancart style seems to fit the longer wheelbase with such ease and proportion that it opens the door to the question of whether it was always destined to be on a longer chassis.
The added length in the body makes it appear even lower while giving a more pleasing shape to the window area as well. At the same time, the longer tail balances the long hood, a dramatic effect that is enhanced by the subtle notchback that is the identifying characteristic of the Jeancart version of the Teardrop coupe.
In the world of important French cars, provenance is second only to design, and 93064 stands as one of the best of the Teardrops, having a continuous history from new, and no history of fire, accident, or deterioration.
Chassis no. 93064 was given Figoni production number 685, a number that can be found on the car in numerous places as many parts of the car were stamped with this number during construction.
Unfortunately, the identity of the first owner has been lost in the mists of time. Records do indicate that it was ordered as it is today finished in metallic blue with a red leather interior, on a Baby 4L chassis, and carrying Style 9221 Model Jeancart coachwork, built by Figoni et Falaschi as job #FF685. S/N 93064 was delivered on February 21, 1938 to a French resident, and registered with plate no. 199ADY75.
Fortunately, the cars exceptional beauty made it prominent on the concours circuits of the day, and we have photography from period magazines showing the car in the company of a striking woman (who may have been the original owner) at its first showing in June 1938 at the Concours dElegance de lAuto.
In these photographs, the car appears much as it does today, although with a few minor differences: slightly different bumpers, external headlights, and chrome wire wheels.
The wartime history of the car is not recorded, although by the late 1940s, it was in southern California, probably brought back by a returning serviceman. It was at this time that Denver, CO native David Radinsky bought the lovely teardrop.
Radinskly later sold the car to machinist Paul Major. For many years, Major was seen driving the car in the Denver area (it was now black with a brown interior). At this point, the headlights had been recessed into the fenders, and the taillights were now flush with the fenders. Sometime in the mid 1950s, the trafficators had ceased to work and Major added turn signals in the tops of the headlight housings, with a similar arrangement added to the taillights. Bumpers from a prewar Cadillac were also fitted.
It was about this time that S/N 93064 was featured and photographed - in an article in Rocky Mountain Autolife, written by Ronald C. Hill, a friend of Majors.
According to Hill, Major offered the car at auction at Arthur Rippeys Veteran Car Museum in September 1966, although it appears it did not sell. It was offered again at the same place in November 1967, this time selling to to a buyer in Atlanta, GA, believed to have been a Mr. Millbank. In the early 1970s, Millbank shipped it to French coachbuilder Henri Chapron in Paris for restoration.
According to noted French car author Richard Adatto, Jean-Paul Caron, his photographer, wrote that in 1972 he stopped by to visit Chapron at his shop. In between the Rolls Royces, De Tomaso Panteras and Ferraris, he spotted various pieces of a car that made his heart beat fast. It was a Talbot-Lago, bodied by Figoni & Falaschi in 1938 and under restoration for its American owner, Mr. Millbank.
Once the restoration was completed, Mr. Chapron invited Mr. Caron back to the shop for a look at the results before the car was launched again in public in Paris in 1974. They took the car around the Bois de Boulogne and the Arc de Triomphe, which was quite a feat considering the difficulty of a steering wheel with a one and a half turn lock to lock and a gear box with pre-selected gears. On a highway it must be a dream to drive, however, and can move at a steady 180 km/hr.
During the restoration, the car was returned to its original colors. At the same time, several small touches were added. The headlights were modified slightly, the rear turn signals were removed, and the bumpers were changed to appropriate original type single blade style.
At some point in the late 1980s, S/N 93064 was purchased by a Japanese collector. It remained in Japan until brought back to the America by the vendor, a noted Washington collector. When the new owner first received the Talbot he immediately set out to get the Talbot in excellent running order and restored the engine and mechanicals. While a frame off restoration was not necessary he had the car cosmetically freshened both inside and out with new paint and interior.
Today, the Talbot remains as it was for so many years, a picture perfect representation of a well cared for automobile. The current gentleman owner fell in love with car at first sight. An avid motoring enthusiast and collector of important cars, his intention was to maintain it in concours condition.
His passion, however, was to drive it. He is among the lucky few who speak from experience when they report that the Talbot chassis, combined with the Teardrops lightweight coachwork, results in an exquisite driving experience. The steering is both quick and light, proving that properly designed chassis have no need of power steering.
The engine has been adapted to Winfield carburetion for improved throttle response and a much broader power band. (The original manifold remains untouched, and could easily be returned to the original Zenith-Stromberg carburetion setup should a future owner prefer it). Even with the stock carburetors, the four liter Talbot engine was a delight, revving freely and producing its peak output at a dizzying (for the time) 4,200 rpm. In this configuration, with the hemispherical heads and high performance specifications, the Teardrops performance enhancements were clearly inspired by the T150C competition models.
The Wilson preselector gearbox is another period delight. While it may seem mysterious to those who have not used it, those who have praise it with the fervor of the newly converted. Smoother than a conventional manual gearbox, it also offers positive coupling, quick shifting, and exceptional torque handling. Highly reliable, the Wilson box handled power transmission for generations of London busses.
The author had the opportunity to speak with the vendor at length about his decision to offer S/N 93064 to a new owner. An experienced collector, his reluctance to sell came not from the undeniable beauty of the car, but rather from the delightful memories he has of the car as an entry in several of the increasingly popular driving events available to collectors today.
Although he owns many show cars, he said he was never tempted to go that route with 93064 though he acknowledges that the cars next caretaker may intend to do just that. In fact, his intention is to pursue another acquisition to replace his cherished Teardrop though he steadfastly refuses to hint at what it might be.
Following the Talbots second running on the Colorado Grand the owner noted inconsistencies in the suspension and the Teardrop was sent to noted mechanic and restorer Mr. Jim Stranberg for examination. Wear was found in the front suspension, and consequently the decision was made to undertake a comprehensive rebuild of the steering and front suspension. While there, an extensive service was undertaken as well, and as expected the Talbot now runs and drives without fault.
On a recent road test the Talbot proved to be in excellent operating order, starting easily from cold, and settling almost immediately into a comfortable idle. Moving off, the clutch action is silky smooth, and the car accelerated easily through the gears.
There is no question that the 1938 Talbot-Lago T23 Teardrop Coupe is a master work of Art Deco design. Its proportions and sweeping stance are a wonderful representation of the pinnacle of prewar French creativity and imagination. Crafted at the very height of Art Deco design in 1938, it was, like all significant works of art, virtually unmatched in its beauty, without peer or parallel.
Just two years later, the composition of the world would change dramatically; Paris would no longer be the destination of the intellectual or continental. It would prove to be the end of an inspiring era. At the height of its prewar grandeur, Paris and its impressive artisans and craftsmen would leave the world a handful of legacies of its place at the center of the creative world. One such example is this Talbot-Lago Teardrop Coupe and today, we are grateful for its celebrated representation of art and engineering, motion and emotion.
The Opportunity
Its appearance at Amelia Island marks the first time this Talbot has been offered to the public since 1967,
Unique among the 16 Teardrop Coupes, chassis 93064 represents the pinnacle of automotive design. This very special T23 combines speed, luxury, and undeniable beauty. Its history is continuous and uncontested since 1938, its provenance is impeccable and its mechanical and cosmetic condition is excellent. It is both well known and well respected among the marque specialists. Without argument, this is one of the most stunning cars in the world.
Be happy while you're living, for you're a long time dead.
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Post #2 Sat, Jul 8, 3:37 PM |
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Richard Owen
It's Your Birt - 2023
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Sold for $2,145,000 plus comission and tax
Be happy while you're living, for you're a long time dead.
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Posted: Today |
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Superbot
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Posted: Today |
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Superbot
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| All Forums > 1936 Talbot-Lago T23 > RM Auction's Sale of 93064 > Post Reply |
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