talbot

Talbot was a brand of British-French origin whose name dates back to the early twentieth century, although its most memorable competitive period came at the end of the twentieth century under the umbrella of the PSA group (Peugeot-Citroën), which revived the name in the 1970s to replace Simca. In rallying, it stood out especially in the late 1970s and early 1980s with the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, a small utility car transformed into a competition weapon thanks to a 2.2-liter engine developed by Lotus and rear-wheel drive, an unusual combination in its category. With this model, Talbot achieved the World Rally Manufacturers' Championship in 1981, surpassing brands with larger budgets, which solidified its sporting reputation. However, the brand gradually lost prominence during the 1980s and PSA decided to abandon it progressively at the end of the decade, leaving the Sunbeam Lotus as its great legacy in rally history.