Talbot-Lago T26C

Talbot-Lago T26C^[1]^[2]

Designer(s)	Talbot-Lago
Production	1948–1950
Technical specifications
Chassis	Steel box-section frame, aluminium body
Suspension (front)	wishbones, transverse leaf spring, friction shock absorbers
Suspension (rear)	live axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs, friction shock absorbers
Length	4,077 mm (160.5 in)
Width	1,308 mm (51.5 in)
Axle track	1,372 mm (54.0 in) (front) 1,308 mm (51.5 in) (rear)
Wheelbase	2,502 mm (98.5 in)
Engine	4.5 L (270 cu in) OHV I6 (260 bhp) FR layout
Transmission	Wilson pre-selector 4-speed manual transmission
Weight	950 kg (2,090 lb)
Competition history
Notable drivers	Louis Rosier Yves Giraud-Cabantous Philippe Étancelin
Debut	1950 British Grand Prix
Races Wins Poles F/Laps 13 0 0 0
Constructors' Championships	0 (Note that the Constructors' Championship was first awarded in 1958)
Drivers' Championships	0
n.b. Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only.

The Talbot-Lago T26C was a single-seater racing car designed and developed by French manufacturer Talbot-Lago. It featured a box section chassis, an unsupercharged 4,483 cc (273.6 cu in) capacity 93 mm × 110 mm (3.66 in × 4.33 in) straight-six engine and a four speed Wilson preselector gearbox.^[3] The chassis and gearbox were derived from the company's 1930s racing cars and were similar to those used on their post-war road cars.^[3] For the 1950 Formula One season a version with a more powerful engine was introduced, with revised carburation and twin spark plugs. These variants are known as T26C-DA (for Double Allume, i.e. twin plug).^[3]

Racing history

The T26C made its racing debut in the 1948 Monaco Grand Prix, finishing second in the hands of Louis Chiron.^[3] Grand Prix victories were achieved the following year with Louis Rosier winning the 1949 Belgian Grand Prix^[4] and Louis Chiron winning the 1949 French Grand Prix.^[5]

A modified version, the T26C-GS (for Grand Sport), fitted with two-seater bodywork, cycle wings and lights, won the 1950 24 Hours of Le Mans driven by Louis Rosier and Jean-Louis Rosier.^[3]

Doug Whiteford won the 1952 and 1953 Australian Grand Prix driving a Talbot-Lago T26C.

Talbot-Lago T26C de 1950.

Talbot F1

Technical data

Technical data	T26C (F1)
Engine:	Front mounted 6-cylinder in-line engine
Displacement:	4482 cm³
Bore x stroke:	93 x 110 mm
Max power at rpm:	260 hp at 5 000 rpm
Valve control:	2 camshafts in the engine block, 2 push rod actuated valves per cylinder
Compression:	11.0:1
Carburetor:	3 Zenith 50 HN
Gearbox:	4-speed Wilson preselector box
suspension front:	Double cross links, transverse leaf springs
suspension rear:	Rigid rear axle, longitudinal leaf springs
Brakes:	Hydraulic drum brakes
Chassis & body:	Steel box beam frame with aluminum body
wheelbase:	250 cm
Dry weight:	950 kg
Top speed:	270 km/h

Complete Formula One World Championship results

Works team entries

(key)

Year	Chassis	Engine	Driver	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
1950	T26C-DA	Talbot L6		GBR	MON	500	SUI	BEL	FRA	ITA
			Yves Giraud-Cabantous	4	DNA		Ret	Ret	8
			Eugene Martin	Ret			Ret
			Louis Rosier				3	3	6*
			Philippe Étancelin					Ret
			Raymond Sommer						Ret

* Indicates shared drive with Charles Pozzi in his privately entered T26C

n.b. Prior to 1958 there was no Constructor's World Championship, hence constructors were not awarded points.

Results of other Talbot-Lago cars

(key) (Results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap.)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	Driver	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
1950	Ecurie Rosier	T26C	Talbot L6		GBR	MON	500	SUI	BEL	FRA	ITA
				Louis Rosier	5	Ret					4
				Henri Louveau							Ret
				Charles Pozzi		DNA
	private									6*
				Raymond Sommer					Ret		Ret
				Pierre Levegh		DNA			7	Ret	Ret
				Guy Mairesse							Ret
	Ecurie Belge			Johnny Claes	11	7		10	8	Ret	Ret
	Ecurie Bleue			Harry Schell				8
	Ecurie Leutitia			Eugene Chaboud					Ret
	Philippe Étancelin									5*
		T26C T26C-DA		Philippe Étancelin	8	Ret		Ret		5*	5
1951	Ecurie Rosier	T26C T26C-DA T26C-GS			SUI	500	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	ITA	ESP
				Louis Rosier	9		4	Ret	10	8	7	7
				Louis Chiron			Ret	6	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret
	Ecurie Belge			Johnny Claes	13		7	Ret	13	11	Ret	Ret
	Ecurie Belgique			Jacques Swaters						10	Ret
				André Pilette			6
	private			Yves Giraud-Cabantous	Ret		5	7		Ret	8	Ret
				Philippe Étancelin	10		Ret	Ret		Ret		8
				Guy Mairesse	14			9
				Eugene Chaboud				8
				Henri Louveau	Ret
				Pierre Levegh			8			9	Ret
				Duncan Hamilton					12	Ret
				José Froilán González	Ret
				Georges Grignard								Ret

* Indicates shared drive

References

1. "1948 - 1950 Talbot Lago T26C Grand Prix Specifications". Ultimatecarpage.com.
2. "Talbot Lago T26C Biplace group S (1950) - Racing Cars". tech-racingcars.wikidot.com.
3. Melissen, Wouter (18 October 2013). "Talbot Lago T26C Grand Prix". Ultimatecarpage.com. Archived from the original on 2020-12-02.
4. VIII Grand Prix de Belgique, www.statsf1.com Retrieved on 17 February 2014
5. VI Grand Prix de France, www.statsf1.com Retrieved on 17 February 2014