The Roesch Talbot: a car fit for a captain

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Georges Roesch is widely regarded as the man who saved Talbot. By the mid-1920s, the ailing Kensington marque was stuck with a range of rather staid light cars which it couldn't sell. Swiss-born Roesch had migrated to England in 1914 to work for Daimler, and was busily engaged on designs for Sunbeam and Darracq when he was urgently summoned to Barlby Road to bring succour to Talbot.

Saved in the nick of time

His instructions were clear: design a car which will put Talbot back on the map, but which can be built in its poorly-equipped factory, and have it finished within six months. Despite the impossible-sounding brief, Roesch ultimately gave Talbot far more than it asked for. So it was that the Talbot 14/45 appeared in mid-1927, a large, handsome motor-car with a sophisticated 1665cc ohv six which gave performance to rival the bigger British sporting cars. It formed the basis for the 90 and 105 models, which would become famous for their successes at Le Mans and Brooklands, and in the Alpine Trial.

It was, without a doubt, a car for the distinguished gentleman or lady of action, so it's no surprise that this 14/45 has fallen into the hands of a wealthy naval officer. Pardon our title - his stripes indicate that he is one rank short of a captain, being instead a commander, but no doubt his promotion wasn't far off. The car sports the attractive Weymann Coupé body with optional wire wheels, of which no more than a small handful survive today. Beyond that, we don't know any more about this photo, and the London registration doesn't really help us with the location.

It would be fascinating to know more, though. If you recognise the man or the car, please tell us all about them.

Words: Zack Stiling; picture: Stiling Collection
 

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