Bonhams announced a 1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Record Sport Cabriolet Décapotable as early lead car for sale in the 2021 Quail Lodge classic car auction during the Pebble Beach / Monterey Motoring Week in mid-August 2021 in California, USA.
An Art-Deco era 1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Record Sport Cabriolet Décapotable by Carrossier Figoni et Falaschi (estimate on request) was announced for the Bonhams Quail Lodge 2021 sale — a traditional live auction is planned for 13 August 2021 during the annual Pebble Beach / Monterey Motoring Week extravaganza. Further top cars already announced for the auction include a 1952 Ferrari 212 Europa Cabriolet with coachwork by Carrozzeria Ghia and a 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America, coachwork by Pinin Farina.
Bonhams Quail Lodge 2021 Sale
Bonhams held its 24th Quail Lodge Sale in Carmel during the annual Pebble Beach / Monterey Motor Week on 13 August 2021 in California, USA.
In 2021, Bonhams earned $36,877,800 with a sell-through rate of 89% — 124 lots sold, 15 unsold.
In 2020, with most of Monterey Week events canceled, Bonhams held a live online auction behind closed doors to earn just below $13 million with a sell-through rate of 63%.
In 2019, Bonhams earned $32 million with a sell-through rate of 76% of the 217 cars on offer. In 2018, Bonhams earned $37.7 million with a sell-through rate of 82% with 110 of 135 lots sold. At the 2017 Quail Lodge auction, Bonhams earned $56,430,000 with a sell-through rate of 80% of the 105 cars on offer.
The Quail Lodge auction record was set in 2014 when Bonhams sold a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO for $38,115,000 — still the second most expensive car ever sold at public auction.
1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Record Sport Cabriolet Décapotable
A concours-standard 1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Record Sport Cabriolet Décapotable (estimate on request) is the early lead car announced for the Bonhams Quail Lodge 2021 sale. It is a rare example of one of the most powerful, most glamorous and unique automobiles of the Art Deco era.
The 1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Record Sport Cabriolet Décapotable was one of only four examples fitted with bodywork created by celebrated carrossier Figoni et Falaschi, leading coachbuilders of the time. Of the four bespoke cabriolet variants produced, only two have survived.
The flamboyant lines were based on the distinctive whale-like Narval design, during what is recognized as Figoni et Falaschi’s last great period of creativity. This powerful styling was matched by the performance from the 4.5-litre, 175hp engine and the sporting handling afforded by the all-new Talbot-Lago chassis.
The T26 started life as a concours Queen, making its debut at the Deauville Concours d’elegance, a few weeks after its completion. Its first owner Gilbert Fayol, scion of the notable French industrialist family, who commissioned its bespoke bodywork, presented his elegant new motorcar at the fashionable event, along with his equally glamorous friend, Mademoiselle Michelle Cancre, the French female horse-jumping champion.
However, less than a decade later, having been sold on, it had been driven to the point of unroadworthiness. It was discovered in a sorry state in the 1960s, albeit complete with its original chassis, bodywork and engine, by its next owner, who then stored the car for another 20 years in his countryside barn.
Finally, the approach of the 1990s saw a return to the good life for the T26, with its first restoration completed to a high standard, meriting a place at the Parisian Rétromobile classic car show, where it was bought off the stand. It was later acquired for the fabled Rosso-Bianco Collection in Germany in which it was displayed until the collection closed in 2006.
The T26 was sold at that year’s Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction to important Texan collector John O’Quinn who commissioned a second ground-up restoration by marque specialist Tessier in central France. With O’Quinn’s untimely death due to a car accident, the T26 was sold along with the other 800 automobiles in his collection, the new owner returning the motorcar – in bare metal guise – to Tessier. After eight years, the factory-correct restoration, using original finishes and materials, returned the 1940s belle to its former glory, as it is now presented.
Talbot-Lago Prices at Auction
Bonhams sold this Talbot-Lago at Quail Lodge in 2006 but it was since again restored so that result is of no significance. In recent years, Talbot Lago T26 Sports in a variety of coachworks generally sold for between $1 and $2 million. Only two of the 1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Record Sport Cabriolet Décapotable by Carrossier Figoni et Falaschi survived, so a result below $2 million will probably be a major disappointment.
The Talbot-Lago marque record is $7,150,000 achieved by a 1938 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS Teardrop Cabriolet by Figoni et Falaschi at the RM Auctions Art of the Automobile Sale in 2013.
Further Top Cars at Bonhams Quail Lodge Sale 2021
Two further top cars announced for the the Bonhams Quail Lodge 2021 classic car auction include:
- 1952 Ferrari 212 Europa Cabriolet, coachwork by Carrozzeria Ghia. Estimate on request. The 1952 Geneva and Torino Auto Show car is Ferrari-Classiche Red Book certified and retains matching numbers.
- 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America, coachwork by Pinin Farina. Estimate on request. Among the most iconic sports cars ever made and driven by the likes of Brigitte Bardot, this is one of only 181 left-hand-drive examples. A California car from new with well-documented history, it has been expertly restored.
Monterey Motoring Week 2021
Most of the traditional Monterey Motoring Week events returned in mid-August 2021 after the cancellations in 2020. Top classic car auctioneers with sales during Monterey Week 2021 included Gooding (Pebble Beach), Bonhams (Quail Lodge), RM Sotheby’s, and Mecum.
Monterey 2021 Auction Results:
- Monterey 2021 All Auctions: Auction Results General Overview, Top Ten Results, List of Million-Dollar Cars
- Bonhams: Quail Lodge Sale Results
- Gooding: Pebble Beach Sale Results, McLaren F1
- RM Sotheby’s: Monterey Sale Results, Andrews Estate Collection Sale
- Mecum: Monterey Sale Results
Monterey 2021 Auction Announcements:
- Bonhams: Mercedes-Benz 26/100/180
- Bonhams: Talbot-Lago T26 Décapotable
- Gooding: Ferrari California Spider Competizione
- Gooding: Mercedes-Benz AMG CLK GTR Strassenversion
- Gooding: Prewar British Cars
- Gooding: Prewar American Cars
- Gooding: Bugatti Type 35B
- Gooding: Ford GT40 Alan Mann Lightweight
- Gooding: Neil Peart’s Silver Surfers Collection
- Gooding: American Racing Cars
- Gooding: Porsche 934 & 935
- Gooding: McLaren F1
- Gooding: Italian Coachbuilt Cars
- RM Sotheby’s: Porsche 917K
- RM Sotheby’s: Le Mans Racing Cars
- RM Sotheby’s: Andrews Estate Collection (Aston Martin DB4GTs)
- RM Sotheby’s: Top Ferraris
Previous Monterey Week Auction Results
