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Sunbeam/Talbot?Darracq


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#1 ry6

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Posted 30 January 2001 - 16:36

I was looking at a story about the 1926 British GP and noted that the entry included a Sunbeam - now known as the Talbot or Talbot-Darracq.
Can anybody tell us more about this "merger" of famous makes and how the British and French got together on this project?
Regards
Rob

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#2 Ray Bell

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Posted 30 January 2001 - 20:29

Goes against the grain, doesn't it? Like the Concorde...
A complicated issue, but in about 1920 the British-owned but French based A. Darracq & Co (1905) amalgamated with the English company, Clement-Talbot Ltd and the Sunbeam Motor Car Co to form the STD combine.

Clement-Talbot had been formed in 1902 when the French car maker Adolph Clement got together with the Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot.

You must remember that at this time the French had a lead in the automotive field, so their technology was being sought.

There are complete stories about all the companies, not that I think you can make any more sense than that of them, in The World Guide to Automobiles by Baldwin, Georgano, Sedgwick and Laban.

#3 Milan Fistonic

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Posted 31 January 2001 - 03:06

There is also a 1956 book titled Motoring Entente by Ian Nickols and Kent Karslake that covers the story of Sunbeam, Talbot, Darracq and Sunbeam Talbot cars. I managed to find a copy last week for NZ$30; somewhat cheaper than the 90 pounds being asked for it in Britain.

#4 Barry Lake

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Posted 31 January 2001 - 13:00

Milan

If you could guarantee that sort of result on a consistent basis I would pay you a healthy commission to be my book buyer...