Description
Here we are pleased to offer for sale what is we believe the most economical way into ownership of a running and driving Talbot 105 and probably the most economical way into a large powerful, open topped, 1930s British sportscar of quality. Which will allow the new owner to potentially enjoy events such as the Flying Scotsman and Shamrock rallys or more relaxed continental touring. The vast majority of cars built by Talbot were saloons, so the open topped tourer bodied cars have always been much more desirable and so the opportunity to purchase a 105 with touring coachwork in this price bracket is rare indeed.
As a Swiss, Talbot Chief Engineer, Georges Roesch, designed his cars with Alpine motoring in mind. With their combination of a strong and powerful push-rod six cylinder engine, powerful brakes, light and accurate steering and a compact, light yet sturdy chassis it is no surprise that Talbots excelled in the Alpine Trials of the 1930s. Then undoubtedly the foremost long-distance rally and an incredible test for both car and driver.
Roesch developed the 14/ 45 to produce the 75 and 90 models, the latter setting Talbot on the path towards renewed sporting success. 1931 saw the arrival of the 3. 0-litre 105. There was more technical innovation for 1933 in the form of the Roesch-designed, Wilson pre-selector gearbox, the latter augmented for 1935 by Talbot's famous automatic 'traffic clutch'. Also new for '35 were a dropped chassis frame and a 3½-litre model: the 110. The final version was the BG110 which featured an improved and strengthened chassis: of box section and with a cruciform cross-member
Traditionally one of the most sought after of Talbots has been the aluminium panelled Vanden Plas bodied BG110 Speed Tourer of which only around 14 were built. The light body, released more of the chassis' potential, as well as being both slimmer and considerably more stylish than Talbot's offerings.
Registered from new ‘FPA 766’, fitted with engine number 105BD107- which it retains today. This car was completed in March of 1937 as shown by original chassis ledgers held by the Talbot Owners Club, bodied as a Saloon by Talbots in house coachbuilder Darracq.
The car has been known to the Sunbeam Talbot Darracq Register for many years with known owners including Wexwith Long Mills, F. A. Coldwell 1956, P Knox, 1962, R Winstanley 1969, Smith, Oxley.
During the 1980s ‘FPA’ was rebodied in the style of the aforementioned Vanden Plas bodied BG Talbot Tourers (the BD chassis is very similar) by Keith Frost of Whittington Staffordshire, with the correct construction of aluminium skin over an Ash wood frame and subsequently moved through the trade until landing in the ownership of Michae Zeitlin in 1991.
Mr Zeitlin commissioned our sister firm Talbot specialist IS Polson to do what amounted to a full mechanical rebuild on the car. With front axle, brakes, engine, gearbox and back axle/ torque tube all rebuilt, whilst a full re-wire was carried out, the body was improved, at the same time the steering box was upgraded to the earlier superior AV/ AW type and a full flow oil filter conversion was fitted for engine longevity. See copious invoices on file.
‘FPA’ passed to well-known Talbot collector Ray Denton in 1998, who sold it to the current owner in 2000.
A great enthusiast for the Talbot marque he believed ‘FPA’ would make an ideal continental touring car with its comfortable and elegant coachwork, he was proved correct having enjoyed many enjoyable, trouble-free continental tours in the car.
Having not been used for several years ‘FPA’ has been got running for sale by IS Polson and although it would benefit from a full service/ re-commissioning it appears to run nicely and on the road fundamentally drives as it should.
Representing almost certainly the most economical way into a large powerful pre-War open British sportscar of quality, ‘FPA’ will allow the new owner to sample an example of one of the finest British sports cars of the 1930s for a fraction of the usual cost.
