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The Talbot race cars caused quite a stir
amongst the Maserati’s and Bugatti’s that were
prominent in racing at that time. The car that I have captured on
film (in the paddock at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 1996) is
one of the original team cars. It had undergone an extensive
restoration since being purchased by the new South African owner
in the early ‘90’s. The car when discovered in
Italy was clothed in different bodywork (resembling an Alfa Tipo
159) and had a different tubular chassis.
The original Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq cars
were the first GP cars to feature such a steeply sloped radiator
grill and gave the car a very streamlined appearance. The
straight eight 1500cc supercharged engine (capable of 160-170bhp)
powered the car to victory in 1926 when the team cars graced 1st
2nd and 3rd places in the Montlhery race. Further
races with the factory were a disappointment and unsuccessful
even after some development. Financial problems led to the shut
down of the competition department and selling of all three cars.
A wealthy Italian (Emilio Materassi) bought
the cars and modified them including changing the colour scheme
to red from the original French blue. Modifications such as
the new suspension helped the cars acquire several more race wins
including Allessandria, Mugello (a road race), third at the Rome
GP, a 2nd in the Coppa Acerbo at Pescara, and a
victory outright at Livorno. The European Grand Prix at Monza in
1928 led to an unfortunate and tragic accident. At one stage, all
three drivers (Materassi, Arcangeli and Brilli-Peri) held a top 3
position. It was on lap 17 when Materassi in 4th
position, whilst trying to pass a rival Bugatti lost control of
the car and ploughed straight into the crowd killing the driver
and 27 spectators. The team understandably pulled out of
the race.
1929 led to more victories under the new
leadership of Count Brilli Peri. He was later joined by
Nuvolari when Brilli Peri left for Alfa. They won at Tripoli,
Mugello, and a second at the Monza GP. The team managed a third
at Tripoli in 1930 but the cars were beginning to show their age.
The cars were sold off to Italian drivers and in 1932 Enrico
‘Gigi’ Plate bought them. He was the owner that
changed the bodywork and chassis of the car pictured and entered
a few races but with no success. The car was simply outclassed
and Plate out driven. Plate sold two of the cars in 1936. One of
them ended up in Australia and the other in South Africa. The
remaining car stayed in Italy until the early 1990’s when
the now current South African owner (enthusiast David Cohen)
tracked it down and commissioned a full restoration.
Sean Danaher (an experienced car restorer)
undertook the comprehensive reconstruction of the bodywork in
Suffolk, England. The numerous Italian press features of
the time with photographs and lots of detail helped the process
greatly, especially as the original drawings where long gone.
Thankfully the engine at least was largely unchanged and still in
place.
This is a car that I knew nothing about
before the Goodwood Festival of Speed in ’96. I think it is
a very unique car compared to other more upright looking designs
of the time. It’s simply fantastic to see such a rare
and different car back to it’s full glory and ready to race
again after so many years. Especially as the car was
originally built nearly fifty years before I was born.