Talbot Lago T26 Record Coupé

The Talbot Lago T26 Record Coupé once belonged to King Farouk, the last monarch of Egypt. After studying this Talbot Lago from stem to stern, there is no doubt that the King had eccentric and extravagant tastes in the extreme, a pure flamboyant lover. Intended to be the ultimate in modern streamlining, the Ghia’s coachwork for the King has the car with no bumpers and the fenders are skirted over. They swing out on hinges when a royal tire has to be removed. The grill is pretty, but between the wide fenders and narrow hood it has the look of a large-mouthed bass. Unlike American cars of the period the Talbot Lago T26 Record is totally smooth and free from chrome. Only the grille and bezels around the headlight gleam. It is a striking car in its own right and the powerplant is the 4.5-litre inline 6-cylinder engine with aluminum cylinder head and triple carburetors – a direct descendant of the successful Talbot Lago Grand Prix car. What one does not realize until you sit in this car is its extreme width. The body styled by Ghia is almost an illusion. It appears standard size but in reality is much larger.