MOTORING NEWS - The George Old Car Show sponsored by Oakhurst Insurance Company, takes place on 10 and 11 February.
The show will again have an indoor display of over 5 000 model cars, of which a large percentage will be for sale.
This gives young and old an opportunity to admire or purchase a car in small scale that brings back memories of a vehicle possessed many years ago.
The display is usually a highlight of the show and is also enjoyed by the children, maybe to the disadvantage of their parents' pockets!
Bunny Wentzel of Sportique Collectable Models from Johannesburg will be attending the show, where he will be displaying and selling one of the best model car products in the world, the CMC range from Germany.
SPECIAL ATTRACTION
A very special French model car will take pride of place.
When Talbot presented its first real coupé during the Paris Motor Show in 1937, visitors were impressed.
Every detail about this fascinating vehicle testified to a deep, almost obsessive love for perfect design and matching accessories.
It had a metal sunroof, which was rarely encountered in those days.
The luxuriously equipped interior with artistically worked precious wood and elegant leather ensured a sense of well-being, and a silky-smooth six-cylinder in-line engine with 140 to 160hp guaranteed a high degree of travelling pleasure.
Anthony Lago, the renowned Frenchman Giuseppe Figoni and his partner Ovidio Falaschi conducted a collaborative exclusivity agreement in 1937.
The premium product of this union became the "Teardrop" coupé, which entered the market between 1937 and 1939 with only 16 vehicles manufactured.
Five units, called "Jeancart", were built during the first production series.
The second production series was introduced at the New York Auto Show in 1937 and encompassed 11 vehicles, built exclusively with the T 150 C-SS chassis and short wheel-base of 2 650mm.
This vehicle lot went down in the history of Talbot-Lago as the "New York Model", with each individual vehicle differing only in some details.
A typical example would be the design of the headlights, which were either freely mounted between the radiator grille and the fenders or recessed into the bodywork and arranged behind a chromium-plated metal grid.
Together with his chief engineer Walter Brecchia, Anthony Lago was far ahead of his time where technology was concerned.
The shortened, lightly constructed T 150 C-SS chassis should be mentioned first. Independent suspension, a Wilson 4-speed pre-selector gearbox, excellent brakes and, as already mentioned, a smooth-running six-cylinder engine, were other technological highlights of this extraordinary vehicle.
MODEL CAR
The model of the car is hand-assembled and consists of 1 488 single parts. It is a true-to-scale, authentic replication of the Talbot Lago Coupé.
The model has a functional metal sunroof - a first for the model car industry.
There are also a highly detailed 6-cylinder in-line engine (showing triple carbs, fabric plug leads and the battery bracket with butterfly nuts), perfectly wired wheels with light alloy rim, stainless steel spokes and nipples and removable two-wing central locking nuts, and a trunk that can be opened, revealing a spare wheel and leather straps.
The dashboard shows meticulous replication with all instruments and controls, interior carpets with piping on the edges and leather seats that can be folded down.
The elaborate undercarriage shows every bolt and nut, brake lines, multi-bladed leaf springs and real wooden boards combined with brilliant paint work.
It is a true piece of art and just unbelievable as a scale model that looks 100% like the real car.
Details of the Talbot Lago Coupé:
- Engine: 3996cc 6-cylinder in-line
- Power: 140 - 160bhp
- Top speed: 185km
- Units made: 16
Pierre Conradie, who owns a large CMC collection, generously provided this information.
For more information on the model car display and to book a space, contact Ignatius Anker on 082 442 9875.
Special weekend and day entrance tickets can be bought online at https://www.quicket.co.za/events/37471-2018-george-old-car-show/#/
The show is presented by the Southern Cape Old Car Club. Vintage, veteran and classic cars that have been registered in advance will be displayed.
Contact Klaus Oellrich on 076 764 0897 for more information, or register on the website www.scocc.co.za.
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