Swiss-born Georges Roesch surely ranks amongst the leading car designers of the pre-war era being responsible for Talbot design from 1926 right through to the indomitable Types 105 and 110 of the mid-1930’s.

Roesch had rejoined Talbot at the request of Coatalen in 1925 at a time when Talbot were in dire financial straits and set to immediately on the design of the 14/45 engine, a six-cylinder, pushrod overhead valve, monobloc unit displacing 1,666cc.

Roesch’s mechanical artistry involved lightness, choice of the right metallurgy and higher than normally accepted compression ratios, producing high efficiency from comparatively small engine capacity.

The 14/45hp was launched at Olympia in 1926 to high acclaim.

Every detail of the deep pressed steel chassis frame was carefully thought out and it was this basic frame design in modified form which was to be used for the ‘invincible’ 75, 90, 105 and 110 models.

Although working with limited financial resources and outdated equipment at ...