|
|
|
A Vintage Talbot
 |
|
| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Driving through our local town yesterday, a fine Talbot vintage saloon passed us going in the opposite direction.
Moments later, another Talbot appeared. This time - as front seat passenger - I was able take a quick shot.
Only after downloading the photograph from my camera later, did I realise the size and magnificence of the car - the top of its radiator seems to be the same height as the roof of the modern saloon following it.
A few minutes "Googling" brought up the website of the Talbot Owners' Club. There, not only did I find out what these car owners were up to this weekend, but also another picture of the same car on an Alpine rally.
The car is a Talbot 90 - the mudguards appear to be a modern addition to comply with road traffic regulations - the car must originally have been a racing machine. |
tyro, pablominto has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekLens members may rate photo notes. |
|
|
| Discussions |
| Thread | Thread Starter |
Messages |
Updated |
| To tyro: Talbot | graffer |
1 |
05-12 02:29 |
| You must be logged in to start a discussion. |
|
- tyro
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 218 W: 83 N: 632]](http://i1.treklens.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(3024) - [2008-05-11 15:24]
- [+]
Hello, Peter.
I've just sat down at the computer for the first time today and this is what I see!
Whoa!
A fabulous picture of a fabulous machine. I see that it appears as though the same driver and passenger are in your picture as are in the picture of the 2007 Alpine Rally - just their headgear is different.
Photographically speaking, I thought there was a touch of lens flare here but, as I presume you were not a passenger in an open car like this, it must be flare from your windscreen. A very nice picture all the same - and you were lucky to get it for I have noticed on occasions such as this that these machines tend to travel at a fair pace!
About the car: I rather suspect that the mudguards might actually be original. Bentleys of this era were often produced with "cycle" wings such as these, and sometimes with more sweeping wings. In fact, at this time, producers of large, expensive cars such as this tended only to manufacture "running" chassis - that is a chassis with engine, transmission, wheels and suspension - and it was up to the buyer to arrange for a coachbuilder (VandenPlas, Mulliner, Hooper, Thrupp & Maberley, etc.) to build a suitable body. The bodies tended to be fairly similar from each coachbuilder but a wealthy owner could order bespoke coachwork.
I don't know a lot about Talbots but, as you say, this car looks to be either a racing machine or at least a thoroughbred born out of racing: the front axle looks light and purposeful and I see that those mudguards are supported by members running to the chassis frame - in some cars they were mounted onto the stub axles, a feature which cleverly allowed the wings to turn with the wheels but also added badly to unsprung weight, a feature not conducive to good road-handling. Indeed, it is the quest for low unsprung weight which brought about the use of light-alloy wheels in sporting cars: we have them for this purpose and not because they look pretty and don't rust. They are not a new idea either - Bugatti had them in the 1920's!
Oops, sorry to go on like this - I love your photograph, Peter! Thank you for sharing this one.
Kind Regards,
John.
Considering the circumstances, this picture worked out really fine. Pity about the "salon" car in the back, but on the other hand it gives kind of a reference.
TFS
Hello Peter,
Old cars are always attention catchers!
I'm pretty sure this specimen has a history competing with Bugatti and Mercedes on the racetracks...
This is a well composed presentation with fine details, also accompanied by a well written note!
Greetings,
Pablo -
