Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS Teardrop Coupe Joins Gooding & Company’s Amelia Island Auction

In less than a month, masses of automotive fans will migrate south to Florida for the annual Amelia Island auctions and The Amelia Concours d’Elegance. Gooding & Company has been filling its Amelia Island docket with top-notch consignments for months now. The company has just released an online auction catalog for the sale, which takes place Friday, March 4 at the Omni Amelia Island Resort. To mark the release of the catalog, the company has just announced several headline lots.

Image: Mathieu Heurtault, courtesy of Gooding & Company

The most notable and eye-catching is a 1937 Talbog-Lago T150-C-SS Teardrop Coupe. The Goutte d’Eau — or Teardrop — masterpiece was bodied by legendary Parisian coachbuilders Figoni et Falaschi.

A limited number of the T150-C-SS chassis were produced, with Figoni et Falaschi building just ten Teardrop coupes, Style 9220, on that ultimate platform. If that doesn’t make this car rare enough, chassis 90107 represents the most extreme version of the Teardrop coupes, featuring all-aluminum coachwork with fully-enveloping, skirted fenders at all four corners. Two examples with these features were produced, but 90107 is the single remaining with its original body.

After being displayed in Paris at the 1938 Concours d’Elegance Fémina, where it was awarded the Prix d’Excellence and presented by Princess Stella de Kapurtha, the Talbot-Lago has been cared for the some of the automotive world’s finest collectors. They include Tommy Lee, Lindley Locke and the Nethercutt Collection. During the car’s time in the Nethercutt Collection, it was treated to a complete restoration and later debuted at the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, taking home a First in Class trophy. Two years later it won Best of Show at the 2007 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. (Estimate: In excess of $10m)

Two more recent additions include two beautiful Bentleys. The first, is a 1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback built for American sportsman and racer Bill Spear. Of the 192 built, this car is one of 23 R-Type Continentals produced in left-hand drive and center-shift configuration. Restored by P & A Wood of London in 2007, this Continental won a First in Class trophy at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. (Estimate: $2m – $2.5m)

The second iconic British automobile is a 1939 Bentley 4¼ Litre Sports Coupe known as “The Honeymoon Express.” Bodied by Park Ward Ltd, the one-of-a-kind coupe was built on an MR-series chassis and displayed 1938 Earls Court Motor Show. This unique 4¼ Litre, like the R-Type above, was restored in London circa 2011 before taking home class awards at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, in 2015 and 2016, respectively. (Estimate: $700k –$900k)

Click here for Gooding & Company’s complete online Amelia Island Auction Catalog