1957 Talbot-Lago America Chassis

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

The 1957 Talbot‑Lago America stands as the dramatic final chapter of one of France’s most storied marques. Born from a company that had once dominated Grand Prix racing and crafted some of the most elegant prewar coachbuilt automobiles, the America emerged at a time when Talbot‑Lago was fighting for survival. After World War II, the market for hand‑built luxury cars had collapsed, and Talbot‑Lago struggled to compete with mass‑produced rivals. In a last attempt to stay relevant, founder Anthony Lago commissioned a modernized grand touring coupe aimed at the growing American market—hence the name America.

The 1957 model featured a more contemporary drivetrain. Early examples used Talbot’s own 2.5‑liter six‑cylinder engine, but dwindling resources forced a switch to the more reliable and readily available BMW V8. Despite this, production moved at a painfully slow pace, with only a handful of cars completed. It represents Talbot‑Lago’s last stand: a graceful, determined effort to preserve French luxury.

This experimental Talbot-Lago America show chassis is believed to have been used for display at a car dealership in California in period.

This 1957 Talbot-Lago America chassis is now represented at no reserve by a Broad Arrow Specialist in Florida with a Bill of Sale only.

Highlights

• Offered from the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum

• Last Talbot‑Lago model produced

• 45 produced, 12 with the BMW V8 for export to the U.S.

• 2.5-liter BMW V8 engine producing 125 hp

Factory Equipment

• Five-speed manual gearbox

• Lightweight construction (2,204 lbs)

• Finned aluminum drum brakes front and rear

• Leather bucket seat

Servicing & Documentation

• This 1957 Talbot-Lago America Chassis has been maintained by the museum’s dedicated restoration team to ensure it remains clean and display ready.

Ownership History

This 1957 Talbot-Lago America is offered from the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum.

The seller states, “Our Talbot-Lago America experimental show chassis is a unique piece, consisting only of the chassis, which we believe was used for demonstration purposes at a car dealership during that time. This chassis is complete with the correct BMW engine, a testament to the original engineering intentions.”

Included Items

• Refurbished Dunlop wire wheels

Additional Information

Sold on Bill of Sale only

A Broad Arrow Specialist is working as an agent on behalf of the seller of this listing. As such, the purchase transaction will be facilitated by Broad Arrow, including vehicle payment, applicable taxes required to be collected by the seller or Broad Arrow, and title/ownership reassignment. Broad Arrow is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hagerty.

Contact: Donnie Gould Phone: 954.647.0779 Email: dgould@hagerty.com