Talbot-Lago T150 SS Teardrop Coupe
The Talbot-Lago T150 SS with Figoni et Falaschi 'Goutte d'Eau' (Teardrop) coachwork is, by widespread consensus among automotive historians and designers, the single most beautiful automobile ever created. Giuseppe Figoni's masterwork took the high-performance T150 SS (Super Sport) chassis and clothed it in a body of such breathtaking fluid beauty that it transcends automotive design and enters the realm of pure sculpture. The teardrop shape, with its pontoon fenders that flowed into the body, skirted rear wheels, and dramatically curved windscreen, was both aerodynamically advanced and aesthetically sublime. Only approximately 16 T150 SS Teardrop coupes were built, each slightly different from the last as Figoni refined his vision. Under the sensational bodywork lay genuine performance — the 4.0-liter six-cylinder engine with hemispherical combustion chambers produced 140 hp, enough to win the 1937 French Grand Prix for sports cars at Montlhéry. The T150 SS was driven by some of the greatest racing drivers of the era, and its combination of beauty and performance made it the ultimate expression of pre-war automotive excellence. Today, surviving Teardrops are among the most valuable cars in existence, regularly commanding eight-figure prices at auction.
Among the most valuable cars in the world — expect eight-figure prices for authenticated Teardrops. Provenance verification through the Talbot-Lago Register is essential. Bodies were individually crafted, so documentation of originality is crucial. The engine and pre-selector gearbox require specialist vintage car knowledge. Concours restoration can cost over $1 million.
Only approximately 16 T150 SS 'Teardrop' bodies were built by Figoni et Falaschi. Each was slightly different. The T150 SS won the Coupe des Alpes and various French racing events. Anthony Lago, an Italian-born businessman, ran the Talbot-Lago company after taking over the French arm of Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq. The Wilson pre-selector gearbox was shared with various British and French cars of the era.