Depending on their type or category, new modern cars can cost between tens of thousands of dollars to a few millions. Most vehicles that fetch high prices on the market are those that have lasted for ages – vintage and classic cars. This especially applies to classics and vintages that are rare or have made a name for themselves.For instance, a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO is considered as the most expensive car, after it was acquired for a hefty amount of around $70 million in a private sale. Another 1963 Ferrari GTO changed in hands in 2013 for $52 million. These kinds of cars usually end up in the possession of car collectors, who are more than willing to pay millions to get their hands on the vehicles they wanted.The Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS Goutte d’Eau -- or Teardrop – is considered as one of the rarest and most beautiful cars of all time. It is a rare gem born from the 1930s, making it a true vintage that should be worth millions of dollars.That was recently proven true during a recent auction at Amelia Island, Florida conducted by Gooding & Company. It was the first time the Talbot-Lago was sold publicly, resulting in a record-breaking sale of $13.425 million, as the vintage car became the most expensive French car in existence.
Origin Of The Talbot-Lago Teardrop
Back in the 1930s, it was considered typical for a coachbuilder to build a car based on a chassis made by another company. The Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS Goutte d’Eau was one of these creations. It features a sporting chassis built by Anthony Lago through his Talbot-Lago firm.
This chassis was a culmination of various prototypes, starting with the Talbot-Lago T150 Grand Sport that made its debut at the 1934 Paris Motor Show. In 1936, Anthony revealed the T150-C-SS chassis, which came with a 140-hp four-liter engine. Essentially a low-slung, short-wheelbase chassis, the T150-C-SS was meant to be sold as a bare chassis.
Anthony built limited numbers of the chassis, which then received custom bodies from coachbuilders. Coachbuilder Figoni et Falaschi of Joseph Figoni built an aerodynamic coupe out of the T150-C-SS, resulting to the now known as Goutte d’Eau, or Teardrop.
A Figoni et Falaschi Body On Talbot-Lago Chassis
As per Gooding & Company, Figoni et Falaschi built between 10 and 12 Teardrop coupes on Talbot-Lago’s T150-C-SS chassis, with two variations. One had a notchback design and named Coupé Jeancart, while the other had a fastback design and named Modéle New York.
Figoni et Falaschi built this 1937 Teardrop on a Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS chassis 90107. Considered as the most beautiful of the Figoni-bodied Teardrops, this body was based on the most extreme variation of the Modéle New York fastback design, with fully enveloping front fenders.
The 90107 Teardrop features an all-aluminum construction and fully enveloping, skirted front fenders. Figoni et Falaschi built just two examples, and this Teardrop is the sole survivor with its original coachwork intact.
A Talbot-Lago Once Owned By TV Pioneer Tommy Stewart Lee
Originally finished in blue with gray fenders, the 1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS 90107 Teardrop featured a sunroof, painted wire wheels, competition-style exhaust header, as well as an oval cloisonn badge. It was built to order for racing driver, and Olympic bobsledder Freddy McEvoy, although was first registered in Paris as “3772 RL4” to André David in 1938.
The 90107 Teardrop changed ownership a number of times. It was acquired by Thomas “Tommy” Stewart Lee via Luigi Chinetti in 1939. Lee repainted the car to dark red and occasionally raced it at the desert flats of California.
John Duckworth acquired the car from the estate of Lee in 1951. It changed hands in 1953 (Jerry Hould), 1954 (Walker Edmiston) and 1956 (Lindley Thompson Locke). Locke repainted the car to white, driving it occasionally until the early 1960s. The car was then stored for four decades in a garage.
The Nethercutt Collection acquired the 90107 Teardrop from the estate of Locke in 2004, and then sold the car to a private collector (the seller).
Restored To Its Original Factory Condition
The Nethercutt Collection treated the 1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS 90107 Teardrop to a complete ground-up restoration. The restoration process was meticulous, and it faithfully restored the Teardrop to its original colors.
Already a winner of the Prix d’Excellence at the 1938 Concours d’Elegance Fémina in Paris, the car earned a First in Class trophy at the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. It also won a number of Best of Show awards, including at the 2007 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.
As for specs, the car’s 3,996-cc OHV inline 6-cylinder engine (No. 85021 with Zenith-Stromberg carburetors) was mated to a four-speed Wilson Pre-Selector gearbox. It features a front independent suspension with upper wishbone and lower transverse semi-elliptical leaf spring, as well as rear live axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs. Stopping power is provided by four-wheel mechanical drum brakes.
Sold At Amelia Island Auction For $13,425,000
The seller, described as a private collector with passion for fine art and Art Deco automobiles, decided to let go of the 1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS 90107 Teardrop via the 2022 Amelia Island Auction organized by Gooding & Company.
Interestingly, the auction house had expected the 90107 Teardrop to be sold at around $10 million. But auction participants thought greatly of the 85-year old vintage, as the winning bidder eventually got the hammer banged at $13,425,000.
Source: Gooding & Company