The Talbot-Lago T14 America V8 Barchetta
1958 chassis · V8 BMW 2 476 cm³ · ZF five-speed gearbox
This Talbot-Lago combines the rarity of a T14 America chassis with the sporty elegance of an artisanal bodywork inspired by the brand's cars that competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1956.
Its blue Le Mans silhouette returns to the characteristic proportions of these racing cars: a long hood, enveloping wings, a low windshield and an open cockpit. The visible hood hinges, the Jaeger instrument panel and the black upholstery extend this reminiscence of the 1950s.
A chassis from a confidential series
Bearing the number 140076B, this chassis belongs, according to the certificate drawn up in 1999 by Dominique Dupont, then president of the Talbot Club, to a series of 23 Talbot America chassis numbered from 140056B to 140078B.
Two certificates accompany its provenance. They trace its passage through the vehicle and parts stock acquired by Georges Grignard after the liquidation of the Talbot factories, and then taken over by Dominique Dupont.
They also identify its BMW V8 engine, a particularly rare engine: only 12 T14 America models were equipped with it. They specify that the chassis, which was left incomplete, was subsequently fitted with a boxy body.
A character mechanic
This model combines a T14 chassis and a T14 engine with a BMW V8 engine of 2,476 cm³, developing 120 hp at 6,200 rpm, coupled to a ZF five-speed gearbox. This five-speed transmission is a remarkable technical feature of its configuration.
According to the data provided, the 0 to 100 km/h time is 8 seconds, for a speed of 230 km/h.
The engine and gearbox were overhauled in the early 2000s, respectively by the Bozon and ZF companies.
The lines of the Talbot-Lago Sport of the Mans
Created by Christophe Labrière, this bodywork, according to the Club Talbot certificate, reproduces the plans of the Talbot-Maserati car from the 1956 Le Mans race. It is entirely made of aluminum, just like the tank.
The aesthetic link is at the heart of its identity. It refers to the 2 Talbot-Lago Sport 2500 cars entered by the brand at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1956: sleek, streamlined coupes designed around a six-cylinder engine.
This example extends the stylistic expression while retaining its own technical identity, that of an America chassis paired with a BMW V8 from the Talbot factory.
A particular administrative identity
The French registration certificate mentions the Talbot brand, the serial number 140076B and a first entry into service on January 1, 1958, under the special designation «14EXPLAGOAME».
This inscription could correspond to an administrative contraction of a historical specification related to the registration of this unique vehicle. However, the hypothesis of a designation of an experimental prototype remains to be confirmed by the factory archives.
Thanks to its provenance, its mechanics and its silhouette, this unique model offers a personal interpretation of the Talbot-Lago heritage, intended for enthusiasts who appreciate the history of a chassis, the beauty of a bodywork, artisanal know-how and the spirit of racing.
Same owner since 2001.
Use on the road and in circuits.
Important dossier, photographs and video available on request.
