When STD, Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq, goes bankrupt in 1934, it is Italian engineer Antonio Lago who takes over Talbot's brand rights. Lago continued to produce luxury automobiles and was active in racing. It even manages to take a Grand Prix victory to its name and despite heavy opposition from Italyë and Germany, the marque even managed to win Le Mans. The brand's ultimate pre-war car is the 4.0-liter Lago Special. With 165 horsepower and a top speed of well over 160 kilometers per hour, it was a car unlike any other. In 1946, the model was revised and henceforth called T26 Record. With hydraulic brakes, Wilson pre-selector gearbox and a 4½-liter twin-cam version of the classic long-stroke OHV engine. The 'T26' designation had been used once before, for the GP racers in the late 1930s and referred to the car's tax rate (26CV).As with many car manufacturers operating in this segment and competing against 'the big boys,' difficult times were dawning for Talbot-Lago. In the early 1950s, Talbot-Lago found itself in dire straits due to the tax policies adopted by the French government. Cars with a displacement of more than 3 liters were heavily penalized and where in 1950 433 Talbot-Lagos found an owner, a year later there were only 80. In 1959, the doing fell for Talbot-Lago.And then, with a detour, we finally arrive at the unique car you see here in the pictures. A very special Talbot-Lago T26 Record from 1950 with unique body by Veth & Son. In those days, one could choose a factory body but also a rolling chassis that could then be delivered to an independent coachbuilder. This approach placed Talbot-Lago among such luminaries as Delage and Delahaye.The car you see here was transferred to the Dutch coachbuilding company Veth & Son, which was founded in Arnhem in 1840. Initially the company became big with the manufacture of horse-drawn carriages, but at the end of the 19th century they also started producing bodyën for motorized transport. To indicate that we are not dealing with a small, hobbyist company here: the rapidly growing company was appointed the officialële coachbuilder of the Dutch Royal House in 1914.Before World War II, the company was busy with bodyën based on the most exclusive brands, such as Bugatti, Hotchkiss, Bentley and Packard. The company still exists but has not built cars since the 1960s.In 1950, the Arnhem-based company delivered this unique car. Based on a T26 Record and equipped with a special, so-called "Three Position" convertible top. In addition to open and closed, this car can also be driven in a kind of targa position.In the 1990s, the car was found by a collector who found it to be a Faux Cabriolet, or a car with a fixed roof, resembling a convertible top. As a seasoned collector and restorer, the car piqued his curiosity and he decided to buy it. His suspicion that it was a échte convertible was confirmed after some investigation. The entire hood structure was hidden under the "fake roof" and this discovery caused the restorer not to hesitate for a minute and decided to restore the car to its full glory.In the years that followed, the car was completely restored. Not a little bit but completely body-off and with the highest care and quality, the car was restored exactly as it left the factory in 1950. The wooden frame received a thorough restoration, performed by a top-class specialist. The same happened for the engine, which was made completely new by a top-notch specialist. An extremely thorough rebuild, which was completed in 1993. As icing on the cake, the car was shown at the Concours d'Elegance of Pebble Beach. Even today, the car is still in magnificent condition and it is totally undetectable that the restoration was done almost thirty years ago anyway. The car is in new condition and that applies to both the exterior and the very stylish interior. The 4,482cc 6-cylinder engine with 2 Zenith-Stromberg carburetors produces 172 hp at 4,200 rpm and feels great. The Talbot-Lago has independent front suspension four drum brakes.The magical Talbot-Lago name combined with the almost certainly unique bodywork will always be a combination that will attract attention at concours and events.