Last remaining example from the original production of 37.
7 seater limousine, designed by George Roesch and manufactured in London with Darracq body.
Body built on ash frame, bolted onto Talbot Luxury Limousine Chassis. In 1935 the chassis, complete
with 21 h.p. engine was priced at £575.
1935 Price (complete vehicle) : £850
3,000cc, 21hp 6 cylinder overhead valve engine – now fitted with hardened seats to run on unleaded fuel. Wilson pre-select gearbox.
Specially designed dropped rear axle, coupled through the wheels by reduction gears on each side of the axle. Giving a low ground clearance, this chassis was also used on the Talbot Ambulances.
Rudge Whitworth, racing type, spoked wheels with wheel covers.
Fitted with permanent scissor jacking system. 19.5 gallon petrol tank
Rotax headlamps and Lucas FT37 fog lamps. Weight 2.25 tonnes.
Overall length 16ft 8ins. Width 5ft 9ins. Ground clearance 6.5 ins.
Interior is as original : Hide front; Bedford Cord rear; West of England head cloth throughout.
Paint work as original colours of black over drab (a sort of khaki) with stainless steel mouldings.
The vehicle was first registered and delivered to a Henry Garner of Warwick on 21st January 1935.
In 1946 ownership passed to C.T.D. Dabell, Gotham Garage, Nottingham. Taken off the road in 1956 and put in storage. Gotham Garage was taken over by Nottingham City Transport in 1982 when the vehicle was discovered in a packing case.
Ownership then passed to Bob Alexander of Alexander Coaches, Sheffield until 1986 when purchased by Barry Sorsby of Bradfield and after some recommissioning work it commenced wedding duties in 1987 to 1997. During this period she also appeared on the BBC Blue Peter programme to raise funds for orphans in Rumania.
She then stood in a wet garage until January 2001 when she was purchased, in a very deteriorated condition, by present owner Malcolm Tomlinson of Sheffield.
Extensive renovation work has been undertaken by her owner to bring the car back to original specification as produced in 1935. She is affectionately known as “Lady Clementine” and regularly attends shows and rallies where she has won many “Best in Show”, “Best in Class”, and other prizes.
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