French automotive manufacturer Talbot-Lago planned to reveal the T26 Record at the Paris Salon in October 1946.

The capital city was selected as a launch location to catch the eye of bourgeois Parisian clientele, the intended target market for the sumptuously appointed car.

The new model was available in numerous body styles including a handsome coupé, stylish cabriolet, or as a more practical four-door saloon.

Also offered as a rolling chassis, those seeking something even more special could have their new car bodied outside the factory.

Beneath the T26’s chosen coachwork lay an all-new chassis and drivetrain.

Fully independent coil-sprung front suspension ensured superior handling, while the trademark pre-selector Wilson gearbox was easier to use than the long-throw and slow-shifting ‘boxes that characterised other cars of the era.

A 4.5-litre six-cylinder twin-cam engine developed by Anthony Lago and Carlo Marchetti gave 170 horsepower, making the T26 Record one of the most po...