Lago Talbot One Of two French blue, Lago Talbots Imported into  Australia, both raced by triple AGP winner Doug Whiteford, this car is the last of the 13 Formula One monopostos built by the suresnes factory, which specialised in producing high luxury performance sedans and sports cars. Antonio Lago was an Italian engineer, rising into prominence as the general manager of the English Wilson Self Changing Gear Company, before transferring to the Anglo/French Sunbeam Talbot Darracq company Promoted to works manager of Talbots manufacturing operations at Suresnes, Antonio Lago gained control of the factory ln 1935, when the English half of the combine was absorbed by the Rootes Group.     Lago Talbot began racing sports cars in 1936    powered by a four litre six cylinder engine that featured an unusual Walter Becchia crossflow cylinder head. Out of the competion, successes of the sports cars grew the 4.5 litre Grand Prix cars, Which were never fast enough to match the performance of the supercharged 3 litred 3 pre-war Mercedes and Auto Unions. Post-war, with supercharged engines limited to 1.5 litres Torry Lago commissioned the design of the 4.5 1itre unblown racing engine and from 1946 until 1952 the big blue Lago Talbots were consistent runners and occasional winners on the Grand Prix circuits of Europe. Although still underpowered, compared with Maserati Ferrari and Alfa Romeo, they won, races through sheer reliability and a miserly fuel consumption. Doug Whiteford had also been winning races In Australia in an early Lago Talbot,,which included both the l952 and 1953 AGP events. When that Lago was sold Whiteford decided to buy another, a car claimed to be the most powerful version ever developed by the works. It was found on arrival in Australia to be missing many vital parts. After a long delay the cat was finally ready, initially winning the Argus Trophy race at Albert Park and Placing third behind Brabham's Cooper Bristol and Hunts Maserati in the 1955 AGP at Port Wakefield. Outclassed by an international field m the 1966 A0P, Whiteford finished eighth and then sold the car to Ralph Snodgrass. After crashing the Lago at Mt Druitt, Snodgrass stored the wreck for almost 25 years Victorian Car magnate Reg Hunt persuaded Ralph.to sell, and restored the Lago back to mint condition. Based on a strong and simple box section chassis with 10 shock absorbers  (five per side) controlling the wishbone and transverse leaf spring front suspension, and an offset live rear axle sprung by semi elliptics, th elago featured an unusual four speed pre selector that also dispensed with the need for a clutch. To lower the height of the driver in this monoposto racing car the French engineers built a complex transmission transfer case on the rear of the gearbox, so that the driveshaft ran alongside the drivers right leg to an offset differential. The straight six high cam engine with a bore and stroke of 93mm x 110mm used inclined valves operated by pushrods and produced 194kW at 4500 rpm using a petrol / methanol / benzol blend which was dispensed through three huge SU carburettors. With a dry weight of 789kg the car had a fearsome acceleration and a top speed approaching 280km/h. Year of Manufacture: 1951 Chassis: Steel box section chassis with tubular cross members. Front Suspension: Independant, with wishbones and a transverse leaf spring. Four Houdaville lever action shock absorbers, two Hartford friction shock absorbers. Rear Suspension: Live rear axle with offset differential, semi elliptic springs with two Newton telescopic and two Hartford friction shock absorbers. Front track: 1372mm. Rear track: 1320mm. Wheelbase: 2540mm. Engine: Talbot Lago straight six, cast iron block and cylinder head, Lanchaster balancing shafts. Bore and stroke, 93 x 110mm. Compression Ratio 10:1. Engine capacity: 4482cc. Valve Operation: Twin high-mounted camshafts, operating two valves per cylinder through short pushrods and rocker arms. Power output: 195kW at 4500rpm. Gearbox: Four speed pre-selector with reverse, no clutch. Brakes: Hydraulic, two leading shoe drum brakes on all wheels, operated by tandem master cylinders with an equalising cylinder. Wheels: Cerechi centre lock wire wheels. 101.6mm x 450mm front; 140mm x 450mm rear. Tyres 5.25 x 18 front, 7.00 x 18 rear. Weight: 787.4kg.