Road Cars - Talbot

Talbot was a significant name in the history of the automotive industry, particularly in Europe. It originated as a French automobile manufacturer, and later, it was associated with several other major brands due to mergers and acquisitions. Talbot’s history includes luxury cars, performance vehicles, and compact models. Though it no longer exists as an independent marque, Talbot played a crucial role in the evolution of the automotive industry, especially in France and the UK.

Founded Talbot was originally established in 1903 by Adolphe Clément-Bayard under the name Clément-Talbot in France. The company initially produced luxury cars and was seen as a high-end brand. The Clément-Talbot brand was eventually acquired by the Rootes Group in 1935, a major British automobile manufacturer.

Under the Rootes umbrella, the Talbot name was used for a range of vehicles, including saloon cars and sports cars. In the early 1970s, the Rootes Group became part of the larger Chrysler Europe.

However, in 1978, the French automaker Peugeot acquired Chrysler Europe, and the Talbot brand was revived under the Peugeot banner. Despite efforts to revitalize the Talbot brand, it struggled to compete with other manufacturers, particularly as Peugeot was more focused on its own brand’s success.

In 1986, Peugeot decided to phase out the Talbot name altogether, and the brand was officially discontinued. Talbot models continued to be sold under the Peugeot name for a while, but the Talbot brand itself was effectively erased from the automotive scene by the end of the 1980s.

The Talbot Sunbeam Lotus was a major success in the World Rally Championship and cemented Talbot’s reputation in performance cars during the late 1970s and early 1980s.