The T26 was one of the first Talbot-Lago of the second post-war period: its project however dates back to 1942.
The presentation to the press took place in June 1947.
Also in this car, the bodywork was ordered to measure by the customer, who relied on the experience of well-known names in the sector, including CRD and Saoutchik.
The T26-CRD Formula 1 single-seater
The T26-CRD was a single-seater racing car with a box section chassis and a four speed Wilson preselector gearbox.
The heart of the T26-CRD was a 6-cylinder engine. The displacement was 4482 cm³, while the power was entrusted to three carburetors. The new engines developed up to 240 HP and with subsequent updates managed to reach 260 HP.
The T26-CRD made its racing debut in the 1948 Monaco Grand Prix, finishing second in the hands of Louis Chiron. Grand Prix victories were achieved the following year with Louis Rosier winning the 1949 Belgian Grand Prix and Louis Chiron winning the 1949 French Grand Prix.
In 1960 CRD built a car for the Junior formula, to be sold to the Italian teams as an alternative to the front-engined Stanguellini, with the collaboration of Obarth who supplied a modified version of the 1100cc FAT engine.
It seems that this machine is quite good, as it is very sporty considering the lightweight construction and powerful engine. And it could easily, without problems, win several championships of the time.
As you know, such narrow forms as the dragster are very dangerous and require a great deal of concentration from the pilot, which in the days of 1948 was considered a great feat for a person.
It is also interesting that the car has two fuel tank caps, both front and rear.
The wheel protector is somewhat unsportivness - these are road tires when a sport or semi-slick 3d protector is required.
But nevertheless, in the rain it will behave good - 3 grooves affect it, which is good protection against aquaplaning.
In 1968, the son of a wealthy Swiss banker commissioned CRD to build a fiberglass bodywork for his car ahead of the 1969 European Mountain Championship.
By combining a V12 engine, built in Italy, with the CRD body, the Bergsteiger 2000 was born, which despite its good performance had to bow in the championship to the overwhelming power of the Forari 212 E driven by compatriot Peter Schetty.
in 1934 Fabrizio Ratti, the youngest son of the owner of the C.R.D., decided to emigrate to Argentina and to open a car factory in Còrdoba. in 1936, after two years of work , the revolutionary in design, “Economica” model comes out.
“Ecònomica” MK 1: After months of feverish drawings and calculations, a small car came out. innovations were introduced aimed at saving weight and costs: the radiator was above the engine to save the water pump, according to the principle that hot water goes up and cold water down (radiator circulation); the frame had two V-beams from front to rear; the 4-cylinder engine was OHV. Further saving elements in the design of the engine were the feeding of petrol by gravity (elimination of the feed pump) and the lubrication with a rudimentary oil pump having a mere function of flow rate, with the lubricant distributed to the various mechanical parts by flapping, or by the movement of the organs themselves.
Special features were the opening of the front grille to reach the engine and the door handle in an vertical position.
In 1940 the MK II economy was presented, which did not present any major novelties in mechanics, only a small pump was added that carried fuel to the cylinders, and to the engine.
The biggest innovations were in the bodywork and were the new rear lights, the petrol cap recessed in the hood, the horizontal handles and the side indicators that rose mechanically.
The Mark II was produced until the end of 1944.
In 1945 the Economica Mark 3 was presented which distinguished itself from the Mark 2 for the power of the engine increased to 17 hp.
new aesthetic details were:
The front grille
The front hood which now opened completely
new handles
spare wheel housed inside the boot.
The Mark 3 was produced until 1949.
A new series of competitions for small cars had supplanted the cyclecar class, and so Hans Schaffer decided to finance the construction of a light and snappy car that was equipped with an easy-to-maintain four-cylinder power unit.
The mechanical and engine parts were purchased by the Masegati workshops.
The bodywork, built by CRD, was two-seater in aluminum and the chassis was made up of two side members and cross members in steel sections.
The engine was in-line four-cylinder with a displacement of 1088 cm³. The bore and stroke were 65 and 82 mm respectively. The distribution was two valves per cylinder, with double overhead camshafts there was a Roots supercharger.
The brakes were mechanically operated drum brakes. Lubrication was forced with delivery and recovery pumps. The suspensions were leaf spring with friction shock absorbers. The steering was worm screw with toothed sector. The transmission was equipped with a four-speed gearbox plus reverse.
The car had a distinctive livery that recalled the Swiss flag.
A very peaky motor schedule will create increased slippage. Although with so little power this will be easy to control with the manual transmission. No, for those days it is quite good, considering the fact that this is a city car. However, at times anachronisms try to creep in - highly ethylated 98 ron fuel is used.
Also, the windshield is rather decorative - it does not save from getting flies in the eyes and provokes accidents.
In a fictional universe, your car would have felt good in 1938 to 1944 years.
All in all, it turned out to be too frisky and a bit unfit for speed.
It also made you wear goggles or a helmet so the driver’s face wouldn’t get weathered.
In 1960 the CRD project, in cooperation with the governor of Toramanian Socialistic Republic, the body for the TAZ 100 a little four seats car with an engine of 733cc and 24 HP of power.
there are numerous cars that follow this kind of design philosophy, because it was the standard for sport/race cars of the pre-war/post war (to a point) era. i would recommend searching some of them up, they’re really pretty to look at and interesting engineering wise.
if you want more about era specific design, Ed’s Auto Reviews has a video on it on Youtube, as well as many other interesting videos about car industries and car design as a whole. go check them out if you want to learn more about car design or specific areas industry.
