In 1934, following the dismantling of the Talbot marque, founded in London in 1903, engineer Antony Lago took over the management of its French subsidiary, based in Suresnes. He then decided to modernize production by launching a new range of fast and luxurious automobiles, which could also provide a technical basis for competition models. Working with engineer Walter Becchia, he designed a high-performance 4-litre, six-cylinder engine. This engine, redesigned and enlarged to 4.5 litres after the war, would power the Record and America 26CV models from 1946 to 1956.

With an exact displacement of 4,482 cc (93 x 110 mm), it developed 170 bhp at 4,200 rpm. Mated to a four-speed Wilson pre-selector gearbox, it enabled the Record T26 chassis to reach approximately 170 km/h, despite its considerable weight (1,150 kg for the rolling chassis). The performance and quality of this combination attracted many of the leading coachbuilders of the period.

Among them was the firm of the Dubos brothers, originally based in Neuilly-sur-Seine and headed by Louis Dubos, which had established a reputation before the war for its work on Voisin and later Delahaye chassis. By then based in Puteaux, the company chose a Talbot chassis to present an elegant five-seater convertible at the 1949 Paris Motor Show, designed by stylist Calo Delaisse.

This body, one of Dubos’s final creations, was built in no more than five examples between 1949 and 1951. This particular example was commissioned by Mr. Louis Pommery, who considered it representative of his famous Reims-based champagne house.

Grand Prix d’Excellence at the 1952 Saint-Jean-de-Luz Concours d’Élégance.

Originally finished in black, with chamois-colored upholstery—including the steering wheel trimmed by Hermès—a black convertible top and whitewall tires, the car was later repainted turquoise by Henri Malartre, who also had the radiator grille modified. It originally featured horizontal grille bars.

Luxury and sporting performance
The automobiles produced by French manufacturer Talbot-Lago combined sporting performance with luxury. The T26, named after its 26 CV fiscal horsepower rating, was fitted with an engine developed during the Second World War.

Most examples were produced with standard factory bodywork. However, for a select number of very wealthy customers, the factory supplied rolling chassis with engines, which could then be sent to a coachbuilder of the owner's choice.

Some of the most illustrious customers ordered their cars from the greatest coachbuilders of the era, including Saoutchik and Dubos.

- Inline 6-cylinder, overhead-valve engine, 4,482 cc — 170 bhp at 4,200 rpm, with two ZENITH carburettors
- WILSON 4-speed pre-selector gearbox
- Rear-wheel drive (rigid rear axle)
- Drum brakes
- DUBOS 4-seater convertible coachwork (3 examples)
- Weight: 1,150 kg (bare chassis)
- Top speed: 105 mph