Automobiles Talbot France
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| Société Anonyme | |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1916 |
| Founder | A Darracq and Company (1905) Limited |
| Defunct | 1959 |
| Headquarters | Quai, Suresnes, France |
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Key people
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Antonio Lago |
| Subsidiaries | , previously, |
Automobiles Talbot France manufactured cars in Suresnes, near Paris, France. The enterprise was founded by Alexandre Darracq in February 1897. In 1902 he sold it into British control. The (subsidiary) company first known as Automobiles Darracq S.A. was formed in 1916 by London company A Darracq and Company (1905) Limited.
When the parent company having bought London's Clément-Talbot became S T D Motors Limited in 1920 this Suresnes business was renamed Automobiles Talbot and after a transition period the Suresnes products were branded just Talbot. Antonio Lago, the managing director at Suresnes, acquired control of the Suresnes business when S T D Motors Limited, after its financial collapse, was liquidated in 1936.
During 1916 the Suresnes assets, the whole French business, were transferred to Société Anonyme Automobiles Darracq, a new company incorporated in France for the purpose. British assets were transferred to a British company named Darracq Motor Engineering Company Limited. A Darracq and Company (1905) Limited was now no more than a holder of shares in these two businesses.
After the War automobile production resumed as soon as the Suresnes factory had ceased making munitions, arms and planes. By the time of the Paris Motor Show in October 1919 the prewar 16HP "Type V14" had returned to production, featuring a four-cylinder 2,940cc engine. But the manufacturer's big news at the Paris show was the 24HP "Type A", powered by a V8 4,584cc unit. This model had also been initiated by Managing Director Owen Clegg back in 1913, but production had been delayed by intervening events till 1919. The "Type A" featured four forward speeds and, from 1920, four-wheel brakes. Despite these innovative features, it did not sell well.
The French franc had suffered a sustained crisis of its own during the war years, and in May 1920 the "Type V" was listed at 35,000 francs in bare chassis form: a torpedo bodied car was priced at 40,000 francs. Even the "Type V", with its 3,150 mm (124 in) wheelbase, was substantial car, but for customers wanting more, a "Type A" appeared on the same list at 39,500 francs in bare chassis form, and 44,500 francs for a torpedo bodied car.
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