tony lago

Talbot Lago Grand Prix Cars

September 25, 2018 By pete

Story by Pete Vack

From the Archives, March 28, 2012

Lead image: Peter Giddings drives his first Talbot Lago, #110007, ex-Chiron. Courtesy Peter Giddings.

Hindsight is a good remedy for perceived mediocrity. Looking back on the 20-odd year run of the French Talbot Lago, it is easy to see that the cars of Anthony “Tony” Lago (born in Venice in 1893) were not only were winners on the concours circuit, but significant winners on the Grand Prix tracks in the post war era. After five major Grand Prix wins, nine lesser ones and victory at Le Mans in 1950, Cyril Posthumus would write, “Lago, in his retirement years could look back on a remarkable chapter of accomplishment.”

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Driving the Talbot Lago 2.5 Gran Turismo

December 26, 2012 By pete

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To accompany our stories about the Grand Sport, we asked Gijsbert-Paul Berk if he had a favorite Talbot-Lago. Reaching into his huge bank of automotive experiences, he told us about driving the ultra-rare 2.5 liter 1955-56 Gran Turismo coupe on the banking at Montlhéry. Above, the author’s test car, a Talbot 2.5 liter GT coupé on the cover of the June 1956 issue of the Dutch magazine “Autovisie”. The photo was taken in front of the gate of the stately house called Oostermeer on the bank of the river Amstel near Amsterdam.

By Gijsbert-Paul Berk

I have never owned a Talbot-Lago and they were never on my shortlist. The main reason for this is that when they were new, they were far beyond my financial scope. When they were affordable, as second hand cars, the factory no longer existed, so service and spare parts were a problem. So, it is not that I dislike Anthony Lago’s Talbots; I have driven 4.5 liter sedans, owned by friends. In 1956 I even drove a 2.5 liter GT coupé on the Montlhéry circuit in France. But it was not in a race. [Read more…] about Driving the Talbot Lago 2.5 Gran Turismo

Tony’s Talbots

March 28, 2012 By pete

Peter drives his first Talbot Lago, #110007, ex-Chiron. Courtesy Peter Giddings.

Hindsight is a good remedy for perceived mediocrity. Looking back on the 20-odd year run of the French Lago Talbot, it is easy to see that the cars of Anthony “Tony” Lago (born on this date in Venice in 1893)were not only were winners on the concours circuit, but significant winners on the Grand Prix tracks in the post war era. After five major Grand Prix wins, nine lesser ones and victory at Le Mans in 1950, Cyril Posthumus would write, “Lago, in his retirement years could look back on a remarkable chapter of accomplishment.”

On the day of his birth, we remember the cars of Tony Lago, thanks to VeloceToday reader and longtime vintage racer, Peter Giddings.

From the dramatic concours-winning Figoni et Falaschi coupes of late 1930s to the last-of-the-line Lago America coupes of 1956, Lago Talbots came on the scene with style and flair, making the most of a meager budget and limited facilities. In between the flashy sports cars were the real stars…the series of remarkable 4.5 liter Grand Prix cars that were campaigned primarily by privateers from 1939 to 1952.

Peter Giddings can claim to have been racing Lago Talbots for over thirty years. Although he recently parted with the ex-Etancelin car #110054 (which went to his good friend David Duthu), Giddings has an enormous amount of experience with the GP Lagos. He also owned and raced the ex Chiron/Whiteford French/Australian Grand Prix winning Lago Talbot #110007 for ten years. Like no one else, Giddings is the guy in the know.

The ex-Ron Smith Talbot-Darracq 150 which inspired Peter Giddings. Photo courtesy of David Venables.

[Read more…]