1938 Talbot-Lago T150 C Lago Spéciale Teardrop Coupé
Figoni et Falaschi clothed only one T150 C Lago Spéciale chassis with their celebrated Teardrop Coupé body, making this 1938 Talbot-Lago a truly unique example. French banker and gentleman racer Antoine Schumann commissioned the car as a replacement for his Bugatti Type 50, purchasing it through Luigi Chinetti for 165,000 francs and specifying numerous bespoke details for the coachwork.
The Teardrop design drew inspiration from contemporary aircraft aerodynamics, with pontoon-style fenders (called “enveloppantes”) that flowed seamlessly into the body rather than standing apart. The headlights were neatly faired into the front fenders under chrome bezels, complemented by flush door handles, a sharply raked windshield, and brightwork that traced the car’s contours to suggest motion even while standing still.
Construction of a Figoni et Falaschi Teardrop body typically required around 2,100 hours of meticulous handcrafting at the company’s Boulogne-Billancourt workshop.
The Lago Spéciale variant featured a longer 116-inch wheelbase compared to the 104-inch SS chassis, allowing for more elegant proportions and luxurious detailing while retaining the same mechanical layout. Its 4.0-liter (244 cu in) inline-six engine featured hemispherical combustion chambers and produced around 140 horsepower in standard form, or up to 170 horsepower with a triple-carburetor setup.
A Wilson pre-selector gearbox enabled drivers to choose the next gear in advance with a small lever, engaging it with a light tap of the clutch. Independent front suspension with a transverse leaf spring and four-wheel drum brakes completed the sophisticated chassis.
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