Ultra-rare 1937 Talbot-Lago Teardrop Coupe to be auctioned at Villa Erba
One of only two Talbot-Lago T150-C SS ‘teardrop’ coupes with fully enclosed front wings will cross the block at RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba sale in Italy.
A 1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS ‘teardrop’ coupe, one of the rarest and most celebrated French classics, is set to be auctioned at RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba sale in Italy. This particular example is one of just two originally built with fully enclosed front wings, a detail that makes it highly desirable among collectors.
The T150-C SS was produced in very limited numbers, with the ‘teardrop’ bodywork by Figoni et Falaschi now regarded as a high point of pre-war automotive design. Of the handful made, only two examples featured the streamlined, fully enclosed front wings. The other is known to be in the collection of Princess Stella of Kapurthala.
A complex history and careful restoration
This car left the Talbot-Lago works in November 1937. During the Second World War, it was hidden away, resurfacing in Switzerland in 1946, but by then wearing a convertible body. It changed hands several times over the following decades. In 1987, the current owner commissioned a period-correct recreation of the original teardrop coupe body from a renowned French coachbuilder, as the original bodywork had been lost. The chassis and mechanicals remain original, preserving the car’s provenance.
Specification and value
The T150-C SS features a short-wheelbase chassis and an inline six-cylinder engine, a combination that made it a formidable performer in its day. The car’s rarity and design pedigree have led to an auction estimate of around $4 million. Its value is driven not just by scarcity, but by the enduring appeal of its Figoni et Falaschi bodywork, which continues to influence designers and collectors alike.
- Short-wheelbase, lightweight chassis
- Inline six-cylinder engine
- Period-correct body recreation by French specialists
- One of only two with fully enclosed front wings
Auction context
The car will cross the block at RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba event, where it is expected to attract global attention from collectors. Its combination of rarity, provenance and design makes it a highlight of the sale calendar. The result will be closely watched by those interested in the top end of the classic car market.
