Talbot has a long and complicated history, with some incredible cars being made along the way. They were almost always born out of adversity, too, as the company maintained a perpetual state of flux.
Most sources will point to their classic cars made after the second world war as their best efforts as a stand-alone brand, but the truth is their ownership has always been convoluted, so their rebadged cars are just as much part of their history. Their first noteworthy success was found in motorsport, with one of their cars winning the most prestigious of endurance races.
Their success was all too brief and, after never really finding any semblance of stability, eventually were consigned to the history books.
10 Confusing History
Their roots can be traced as far back as 1896 with founder Alexandre Darracq setting up an automotive business of his own in France.
That business was not yet Talbot, but he was manufacturing cars though, in a time when horses were still the preferred mode of personal transportation.
9 London Enterprise
The business was established in 1902 when the Earl of Shrewsbury helped fund a company that was importing French-made car components, then building and selling them in the UK.
With his backing they were initially called Clément-Talbot cars, this business model only lasted a short time as they shifted to British-made components. Darracq would only enter the fray in 1919 when he purchased the struggling business from the Earl. Although the business effectively started in the UK, it had its roots in France and would eventually die there.
8 Financial Trouble
After some successful years, they had a Paris factory going as well, but things went south pretty quickly in the 20s as the great depression started being felt all over the world. This was aided in no way by their desire to go racing, an almost inexplicable misuse of funding.
By 1934 their parent company collapsed and Talbot was once again on the ropes, with the London division eventually getting sold on to Hillman.
7 Talbot-Lago
Arguably their most recognizable name, Talbot-Lago is a name that still resonates with fans all over the world after making some great post-war cars.
The UK business had been sold on, but in France the newly formed Talbot-Lago went in a new direction, making their own cars from the ground up once more. Cars that have become coveted by collectors all over the world today.
6 T26 Grand Sport At Le Mans
After the war, they made arguably their best, and certainly their most famous model. The T26 Grand Sport was a fully-fledged racing car capable of going over 120 mph.
In 1950 the father-son duo of Louis and Jean-Louis Rosier won the race in a car they entered privately, making history in more ways than one for the small brand.
5 Formula 1
-Shown.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=750&dpr=1.5)
Having produced their finest and fastest car, their confidence was high, maybe a little too high because they decided to have a go at the most expensive form of motorsport.
This was a short-lived venture as the rules would change and Talbot were forced out, not before surprising a few competitors, finishing with a couple of podiums to their name thanks to the same Louis Rosier.
4 Doors Close In 1958
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=750&dpr=1.5)
After their brief time in the sun, things would gradually spiral for the Talbot brand until the inevitable eventually did happen. By 1958 the company shuttered and all the assets that were left were dissolved.
The naming rights on the other hand changed hands several times, by this time Sunbeam had already dropped the Talbot name and Simca bought the naming rights for the French division. This would then end up with Chrysler after they bought Simca and then eventually Peugeot after they bought Chrysler's failing Europe arm.
3 Brand Revival
Although there were a few rebadged Simcas, Peugeot would be the ones to truly make use of the Talbot name in the late 70s.
Having been lumbered with some underwhelming models, Peugeot decided to make use of that old Talbot name on these Chrysler Sunbeams.
2 Talbot Sunbeam Lotus
In a strange twist of fate, a company that had been rebadging cars so vigorously in the past ended up getting their badge on another car one final time.
The hot version tuned by Lotus also fit the bill as the plucky underdog of motorsport, proving that history does indeed repeat itself, even in the automotive world.
1 Unexpected Rally Success
In one of the most spectacular upsets in the history of the WRC the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus team came from absolutely nowhere in 1981 and won the manufacturer's title.
They couldn’t quite do enough to win the driver's title, which might have been too much to ask for, a car developed by Chrysler, tuned by Lotus, and owned by the French ended up becoming the most successful Talbot in motorsport.