Antonio Lago
Antonio Lago | |
---|---|
Born | Antonio Franco Lago 28 March 1893 |
Died | 1 December 1960 | (aged 67)
Nationality | Italian |
Occupation | Engineer |
Known for | Founder of Talbot-Lago |
Antonio Franco Lago (Venice, 28 March 1893 – Paris, 1 December 1960) was an Italian engineer and motor-industry entrepreneur. In 1936 he bought Automobiles Talbot S.A. from his employers, the collapsed Anglo-French S.T.D. Motors combine, and founded the motor-racing marque Talbot-Lago.[1]
The French government awarded him the
Biography
Early life
Lago was born in
In 1915 he joined the Italian Air Force, where he achieved the rank of major during the First World War.[1][2][3]
Politics
Although Lago was a founding member (one of the first 50[2]) of the Italian National Fascist Party, he later became outspokenly critical of fascism, which led to a violent dispute with Benito Mussolini, necessitating his subsequent fleeing to France. In an era of volatile politics he always carried a hand grenade. In 1919 three members of the fascist youth entered a trattoria looking for him, but as they shot the two owners he threw the grenade and ran out the back door. One of the fascists was killed and Lago fled to Paris, reportedly never returning to Italy.[1][2][3][4]
Engineering
Lago worked for
Automobiles Talbot S.A.
In 1933 Lago moved to France to manage the failing French subsidiary of S.T.D. Motors, Automobiles Talbot S.A. Starved of capital it now had antiquated plant and aging products. During the 1920s Louis Coatalen had overspent Sunbeam's funds on Grand Prix racing. Not only had this hampered plant and product development but it was Sunbeam's heavy borrowing brought S.T.D. Motors to its knees when it fell due for repayment in mid 1934. S T D Motors was forced to sell profitable Clément-Talbot or Talbot London, Sunbeam which now had little value —both bought by the Rootes brothers— and Automobiles Talbot S.A. which was unsaleable being hopelessly indebted to its French bankers. A complete collapse of the French company proved unavoidable.
Lago was a "ruthless businessman with great charm".[2] In 1933 he had persuaded the other directors of S T D Motors that with him as director Automobiles Talbot France could be back on its feet in 18 months. They paid his salary whilst he transformed the company and they also agreed to share any profits from the sale. His three pronged rescue plan for Talbot involved reducing expenses; building light sporting cars and using racing for development and publicity. He insisted that the racing cars should be closely related to Talbot production models.[1][2]
When, at the end of 1934, Automobiles Talbot S.A. was forced into receivership Lago managed to convert his rights to export Wilson gearboxes into an option to purchase the factory and its plant and machinery at Suresnes. At a cost of £63,000 ([approx Euro 40,000 as of 2012) he and his investors finally acquired the business of Automobiles Talbot S.A.[1][2][4] in mid-1936 and S T D Motors was liquidated.[6]
Marketing
Scandal
Capitalising on the company's success in sportscar racing, Lago announced plans to build a 3-litre V16-engined car for the 1938 Grand Prix season. He showed the blueprints to the Comité de la Souscription Nationale pour le Fonds de Course (a government body that used public money to try to achieve success in motor racing) and received a 600,000-franc subsidy (approx Euro 300,000 as of 2012), but the V16 never appeared, and it was believed that he used the money to build a factory for Pratt & Whitney aircraft engines.[2]
Business
Despite going into receivership four times, Lago kept the business running until 1958, when he sold it to Simca.[1][3]
Death and commemoration
Antonio Lago was awarded the
See also
- Clément-Talbot
- Darracq
- Sunbeam-Talbot
- Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq
- Talbot
- Talbot-Lago
Notes
- ^ Agents for L.A.P. carburettors(Veteran-Edwardian-Vintage. Motor Sport, Page 68, February 1984), Restelli cars made by Officine Meccaniche Isolabella SA in Milan and head conversion kits for Fiat cars made by Silvani (Automobile Quarterly, 1985, Volume 23, Issue 4)
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Concept Carz. Profile of Talbot-Lago
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j 8W Forix - October 1999, The pre-war Talbot single-seaters by Leif Snellman
- ^ a b c d e f Bonhams. Profile of 1939 Talbot-Lago T150 C SS Chassis no. 90120 Engine no. 17318-C
- ^ a b Old Racing Cars. Profile of Antonio Lago
- ^ Automobile Quarterly, 1983 Volume 21, Issue 1
- ^ S.T.D. Motors. The Times, Wednesday, Apr 22, 1936; pg. 20; Issue 47355
- Alain Spitz, Talbot. The Talbot-Darracq to Talbot-Lago, published EPA, 1983. (ISBN 2-85120-170-0)