The car offered here is an extremely rare opportunity to acquire a piece of British motoring history: a 1937 coachbuilt Talbot Ten ‘Airline’ Sports Saloon in excellent original condition.

It features a distinctive streamlined bodyline enhanced by a pillarless side window.

This is believed to be one of only 13 examples extant, and it appears to be in largely original condition.

Like its siblings, it was built by the Clement-Talbot Works of North Kensington, London, before Rootes acquired Sunbeam and before the cars were renamed Sunbeam-Talbot.

Called ‘Britain’s most exclusive light car’ in a 1937 manufacturer’s brochure, it had a high cost of manufacture due to the exceptional quality of materials used.

It featured an all-synchromesh four-speed gearbox, disc wheels, large section tyres for better riding comfort, a very low and stable chassis, a three-bearing camshaft and a high-efficiency polished aluminium cylinder head and downdraught carburettor and with an advanced automatic ig...