Talbot
Type	Private
Founded	1903
Headquarters	North Kensington, England, UK
Key people	Charles Chetwynd-Talbot, 20th Earl of Shrewsbury
Industry	Automotive
Products	Automobiles
This company has stopped producing

Talbot is an automobile brand, whose history is one of the industry's most complex.

Inception of the British Talbot

Talbot was originally the British brand name used to sell imported French Clément-Bayard cars. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Clément-Bayard was a French Automobile manufacturer from 1903 to 1922 Founded in 1903, this business venture was financed by Charles Chetwynd-Talbot, 20th Earl of Shrewsbury, who lent his name to the firm. Major Charles Henry John Chetwynd-Talbot 20th Earl of Shrewsbury 5th Earl Talbot and 20th Earl of Waterford ( November 13, 1860 - May 7, 1921 Starting in 1905, the company branded its imported cars as Clément-Talbot and began assembling French made parts at a new factory in North Kensington, London, selling them under the name Talbot. North Kensington is an area of west London lying north of Notting Hill Gate and south of Harrow Road Locally designed cars followed from 1906 and by 1910 50 to 60 cars a month were being made. A Talbot was the first car to cover 100 miles (160 kilometres) in an hour in 1913.

Parallel Talbots in Britain and France

A 1923 Talbot 8-18

Talbot 105 1933

Talbot 105 1934

During World War I, the firm manufactured ambulances. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All French and British operations continued in separate, parallel production and marketing processes until 1919, when British-owned but Paris-based Darracq took over the company; Darracq-made Talbots were marketed as Talbot-Darracqs. Automobiles Darracq SA was a French motor vehicle manufacturing company founded in 1896 by Alexandre Darracq. Talbot is an Automobile brand whose history is one of the industry's most complex The following year, Darracq was reorganised as part of the Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq (STD) conglomerate. Sunbeam was a Marque registered by John Marston Co Ltd of Wolverhampton, England, in 1888

In 1916, Swiss native Georges Roesch became chief engineer, and in the early 1920's, Talbot built a number of successful models, including the 14/45 hp, or Talbot 105, which was first built in 1926. Roesch Georges (lived 1891 - 1969 was a Swiss-born automotive engineer In the 1930's, Roesch-designed Talbots enjoyed success in racing with the Fox & Nicholl team, with drivers including the Hon. Brian Lewis, Johnny Hindmarsh, and John Cobb (better known for his land speed record attempts). John Stuart Hindmarsh ( 25 November 1907 – 6 September 1938) also known as Johnny Hindmarsh, was an English Racecar John Rhodes Cobb ( December 2, 1899 – September 29, 1952) was a British racing motorist The land speed record is the fastest speed achieved by any wheeled vehicle on land as opposed to one on water or in the air or on rails. They were also highly successful in the Alpine Trial. ^[1]

Talbot Ten Tourer 1936

Talbot T150

The Rootes era

In 1935 STD combine collapsed and the Rootes Group took over Clément-Talbot. The Rootes Group was a British Automobile manufacturer which was based in the Midlands and south of England. For Rootes, profits were more important than engineering - the existing models were simply rebadged. The French factory was bought by Anthony Lago who used Talbot-Lago as a brand afterwards. Talbot-Lago was a French Automobile manufacturer at Suresnes, Seine.

In Britain, Sunbeam and Talbot marques were combined in 1938 to form Sunbeam-Talbot. Sunbeam was a Marque registered by John Marston Co Ltd of Wolverhampton, England, in 1888 A marque ( French for "brand" ˈmɑrk is a Brand name especially in the Automobile industry Sunbeam-Talbot was a British car maker Background history The Sunbeam Motorcar Company Ltd was formed in 1905 to separate the Sunbeam motorcycle and Production of Sunbeam Talbot automobiles ceased during World War II and resumed again in 1946, and the Talbot name was dropped in 1955. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Sunbeam name continued under the Rootes management (Rapier, Alpine and Tiger) until 1967 when control was taken over by Chrysler.

Talbot 1100

The Chrysler era

After the war, only the French Talbot-Lago continued until 1960. The Simca 1100 was an Automobile built from 1967 to 1982 by Chrysler Europe 's division Simca. The brand was bought by Simca in 1958. Simca redirects here for other uses of that term see SIMCA (disambiguation.

In 1967, Chrysler took over Rootes and merged it with Simca to form Chrysler Europe. Chrysler LLC is an American Automobile manufacturer that has been producing Automobiles since 1925 Simca redirects here for other uses of that term see SIMCA (disambiguation. In the 1960s Chrysler sought to become a world producer of Automobiles The company had never had much success outside North America contrasting with Ford 's worldwide The Talbot name was not used in this era, although the Chrysler "Pentastar" logo and name (used as the marque) gradually replaced the Rootes brands as the 1970s progressed.

Chrysler had just developed with Simca new Horizon/Omni line, and the Talbot Horizon was produced in Finland at Uusikaupunki factory. Finland, officially the Republic of Finland ( is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. Uusikaupunki (ˈuːsiˌkɑupuŋki or Nystad in Swedish, is a town and municipality of Finland. Other Chrysler-based Talbots were also made there, Talbot 1510 and Talbot Solara. The Simca 1307 was the name under which Chrysler Europe launched its new Large family car in 1975 The Simca 1307 was the name under which Chrysler Europe launched its new Large family car in 1975 Top-of-the line model was called Talbot Solara VIP.

The Peugeot era

Talbot Samba

At the end of 1978, Peugeot took over Chrysler Europe and resurrected the Talbot name — using it to re-badge the former Simca and Rootes models. For the article about the bicycle manufacturer see Cycles Peugeot. In the 1960s Chrysler sought to become a world producer of Automobiles The company had never had much success outside North America contrasting with Ford 's worldwide The Peugeot takeover saw the end of Chrysler Hunter production, but the Chrysler-designed 1510 (Alpine in UK), and Horizon remained in production. Rootes Arrow was the manufacturer's name for a range of cars produced under several badge-engineered Marques by the Rootes Group (later Chrysler The Simca 1307 was the name under which Chrysler Europe launched its new Large family car in 1975 The Horizon, was a Subcompact automobile developed by Chrysler Europe and was sold in Europe between 1977 and 1985 under the Chrysler, Simca

All former Chrysler products registered in Britain after 1 August 1979 bore the Talbot badge. Events 30 BC - Octavian (later known as Augustus enters Alexandria, Egypt, bringing it under the control of the Roman Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar)

The last remaining car produced by the Rootes group, the Chrysler (previously Hillman) Avenger, remained in production as a Talbot until the end of 1981. Hillman was a famous British Automobile Marque, manufactured by the Rootes Group. The Hillman Avenger was a rear-wheel drive Small family car originally manufactured under the Hillman marque by the Rootes Group between 1970 and 1976 1981 also saw the end of production of the Avenger-derived Talbot Sunbeam. For the Sunbeam-Talbot or Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq cars see Sunbeam Car Company The Chrysler Sunbeam is a small supermini 3-door Hatchback The entry-level model in the Talbot range from 1982 onwards would be the Talbot Samba, a three-door hatchback based on the Peugeot 104. The Talbot Samba is a Supermini car manufactured by the PSA Group in the former Simca factory in Poissy, France and marketed

In 1981, Peugeot began producing the Talbot Tagora, a boxy four-door saloon marketed as a Ford Granada rival. The Talbot Tagora is an Executive car developed by Chrysler Europe and produced by Peugeot Société Anonyme (PSA But it was not popular in either Britain or France and production ceased in 1983.

At the end of 1984, the Alpine hatchback and its related Solara saloon were rebadged Minx and Rapier depending upon specification rather than body shape. The new names were inherited from the Rootes Group; Rootes had previously produced the Hillman Minx and Sunbeam Rapier. The Hillman Minx was a series of middle-sized family cars produced under the Hillman Marque by the Rootes Group between 1932 and 1970 The Sunbeam Rapier was the first of the " Audax " range of light cars produced by the Rootes Group. These cars were produced until 1986. Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar)

At the end of 1985, Peugeot replaced the Talbot Horizon with the Peugeot 309. The Peugeot 309 is a Small family car designed and manufactured by Peugeot between 1985 and 1993 and between 1994 and 1997 in India by PAL-Peugeot Ltd Peugeot had originally planned to sell the car as the Talbot Arizona but had now changed its plans and was now intent on phasing out the Talbot marque. Production of the Horizon continued in Spain and Finland until 1987. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Finland, officially the Republic of Finland ( is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe.

During 1986 all passenger cars were discontinued, although the Talbot Express panel van continued in production until 1992 when the entire Talbot brand was axed. The Talbot Express van was the last Talbot motor vehicle to be sold

Cars built by Talbot (1979-1986)

• Talbot Sunbeam
• Talbot Samba
• Talbot Avenger
• Talbot Horizon
• Talbot Alpine
• Talbot Solara
• Talbot Tagora
• Talbot Minx
• Talbot Rapier

Talbot in Formula One

Talbot had two brief spells in Formula One. For the Sunbeam-Talbot or Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq cars see Sunbeam Car Company The Chrysler Sunbeam is a small supermini 3-door Hatchback The Talbot Samba is a Supermini car manufactured by the PSA Group in the former Simca factory in Poissy, France and marketed The Hillman Avenger was a rear-wheel drive Small family car originally manufactured under the Hillman marque by the Rootes Group between 1970 and 1976 The Horizon, was a Subcompact automobile developed by Chrysler Europe and was sold in Europe between 1977 and 1985 under the Chrysler, Simca The Simca 1307 was the name under which Chrysler Europe launched its new Large family car in 1975 The Simca 1307 was the name under which Chrysler Europe launched its new Large family car in 1975 The Talbot Tagora is an Executive car developed by Chrysler Europe and produced by Peugeot Société Anonyme (PSA The Simca 1307 was the name under which Chrysler Europe launched its new Large family car in 1975 The Simca 1307 was the name under which Chrysler Europe launched its new Large family car in 1975 The 4. 5-litre, six-cylinder Talbot-Lago T26 was eligible for F1 competition post-war, and many examples, both factory and private, appeared in the first two years of the F1 World Championship, 1950 and 1951. Talbots came fourth and fifth in the inaugural World Championship race, the 1950 British Grand Prix, piloted by Yves Giraud-Cabantous and Louis Rosier respectively. The 1950 British Grand Prix was the first round of the 1950 World Drivers Championship and the fifth Formula One race of the season following Marius Aristide Yves Giraud-Cabantous (born in Saint-Gaudens, 8 October 1904 - died in Paris, 30 March 1973) was a Louis Rosier (born in Chapdes-Beaufort November 5, 1905 - died in Neuilly-sur-Seine, October 29, 1956) was a Racing driver The move to two-litre F2 regulations for 1952 effectively ended Talbot's F1 spell as a manufacturer.

There was a brief participation in Formula One in 1981-1982 by associating with Ligier and using its Matra connection to secure a Matra engine for them, and although the cars were known as Ligier-Matras the team was using the Talbot brand and sponsorship. Ligier is a French Automobile maker created by former racing driver and rugby player Guy Ligier. This lasted two years and was moderately successful, Jacques Laffite coming fourth in the 1981 championship. Jacques-Henri Laffite (born 21 November 1943) is a French former racing driver who competed in Formula One from to.

References

External links

• The Sunbeam Talbot Darracq Register, additional details on the history of Talbot
• Simca Club UK, caters for all Talbot vehicles 1951-1986.