1938 | Talbot-Lago T23 Figoni & Falaschi

• 1938 Talbot-Lago T23
• Three-position convertible coachwork by Figoni
• Short-chassis ‘Baby’ model with 4-litre engine
• Multiple concours winner

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION

It’s thought that this Talbot-Lago T23 was delivered new in 1938 to racing driver Louis Rosier, alongside a T150 SS Coupé by Figoni et Falaschi. French ace Rosier would go on to serve with the Resistance during the war, before establishing himself as one of the leading drivers of the late 1940s and early ’50s. 

Although he was an excellent Grand Prix driver, his most famous success came in sports cars, when he won the 1950 Le Mans 24 Hours in a Talbot-Lago T26 GS. He drove the endurance classic almost single-handed, his son Jean-Louis completing only a couple of laps as his co-driver.

This T23 three-position cabriolet was constructed on the short-wheelbase ‘Baby’ chassis and features a 4-litre, six-cylinder engine driving through a Wilson pre-selector gearbox. Built at the Talbot-Lago factory at Suresnes, the bodywork was designed by Giuseppe Figoni, of renowned coachbuilder Figoni et Falaschi. As such, it features trademark Figoni details such as the ‘teardrop’ front and rear wings – the Italian maestro was also responsible for the sublime Talbot-Lago T150 ‘Teardrop’ coupés.

Although little is known about the early life of this T23 cabriolet, it was later restored over the course of 20 years by Andre Lapines. A mechanical engineer and marque enthusiast, Lapines rebuilt it from the ground up, paying particular attention to originality. As part of the process, he rebuilt the six-cylinder engine and Wilson gearbox, and the finished car was said to be ‘show quality’. 

In 1996, it was acquired by Jack Stromers of Monterey. For the first part of its journey to California, he drove it some 800 miles through Europe, including crossing the Alps. It was then sold to a Dutch collector in 2004 and returned to Europe, where it won its class at the 2010 Concours d’Elegance at Paleis Het Loo. 

This Talbot-Lago T23 has continued to win concours prizes with subsequent owners, and is offered for sale in exceptional condition, from the leather and wood in the stylish cockpit to the flowing lines of its coachwork. It’s easy to see why these Suresnes-built cars have become so coveted.