On the dissolution of the Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq combine in 1935, automobile engineer Major A F ‘Tony’ Lago bought the Darracq factory at Suresnes and continued production, selling his cars as Darracqs in the UK and Talbots in France.

The revitalised marque embraced both sports car and Grand Prix racing, and in 1937 achieved victories in the French Grand Prix and the Tourist Trophy; from then onwards it was an uphill struggle against the state-subsidised might of the German and Italian opposition.

There were, however, many notable successes in the immediate post-war years, including three Grand Prix wins for French Champion Louis Rosier.

The first Lago-built cars retained the existing X-braced, independently front suspended chassis, but were powered by new six-cylinder engines of 3.0 and 4.0 litres designed by engineer Walter Becchia.

Baby, Minor, Major and Master models, of varying wheelbase lengths up to 3,450mm were produced, while a 2.4-litre four-cylinder model was offered on ...