Mais um. Este já nos deixou em 2004 e pertencia ao saudoso Jacques Touzet. Eu próprio estive com ele no dia em que o recebeu, em 1985, e pude testemunhar o seu entusiasmo e ouvir as estórias que tinha para contar acerca deste carro único.
Fica aqui um pouco da sua história, se se derem ao trabalho de traduzir do inglês.
Between 1948 and 1953 only 36 of the T26 Grand Sport cars were constructed, and not one was the same as any other. Some of them were even raced in anticipation of the factory-prepared T26C racing car, which was available as a Grand Prix car and sports racer. In its two-seater guise the T26C claimed Talbot Lago's biggest victory by winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1950.
The highest numbered and one of the last Grand Sports constructed, chassis 110160 was clothed by Stabilimenti Farina of Turin for a Portuguese client. Upon completion, Guiseppe Farina drove the car himself to Paris where it was displayed on the Talbot Lago stand of the 1951 Auto Salon.
Following a tune-up at the Suresnes factory, the new owner took delivery and immediately drove the T26 back to Turin. Here he personally witnessed the destruction of the body bucks to ensure his car would remain a one-off. Satisfied, he drove his latest acquisition home to Lisbon.
Unfortunately, he could not enjoy the car for very long as he fatally crashed a sister Grand Sport before the end of the year. Both cars passed into the hands of a compatriot and the car remained in Lisbon.
In 1985, the car changed hands again, once more staying in the country. It eventually left Portugal and was offered at RM's 2004 Scottsdale auction. It was bought by a great enthusiast of French cars and he had the car meticulously restored by Brian Hoyt.
The result was absolutely staggering and at the 2010 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, it was awarded Best in Class. Today, the unique Stabilimenti Farina Cabriolet is on permanent display at the Mullin Automotive Museum.