Figoni's Talbot-Lago New York Type "Goutte d'Eau": Multiple Views

This post is a follow-on to my post "Figoni et Falaschi: From Delage 135 to Talbot-Lago 'Goutte d'Eau'."

It mentioned that, in 1951, New York's Museum of Modern Art had an exhibit titled "8 Automobiles."  The concept was to present a variety of design approaches to cladding basic automotive functionalism.  MoMA's exhibition press release's statement regarding the Talbot-Lago on display was as follows:

"A third way to combine the essential elements of a car is illustrated at its most extreme by the Talbot, a French three-passenger sport and touring car lent by Carroll Bagley.  This car combines separate envelopes for each part in a composition of similar shapes, and, as a whole, forms an expressive symbol of streamlining."

There were 11 Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS New York-type Coupés made, only one of which seems to have disappeared.  These cars are highly regarded, bringing multi-million dollar auction sales prices.  The body was designed by Giuseppi (Joseph) Figoni of the Figoni et Falaschi Carrossiers firm.

In preparation for this post (late August 2026), I failed to find enough images of a New York type Goutte d'Eau (teardrop) Talbot for a typical Walkaround post.  Instead, the Gallery presents a variety of views of a variety of cars.

Gallery

1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS No. 90106 - My 2019 Mullin museum photo
The museum's lighting interfered with presentations of body shaping on my photo set, so this will have to do.  Note the "shovel" transition from the hood to the windshield -- unusual and outstandingly done.

1938 Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS No. 90109 - Bonhams Auctions photo
Images below are of a car with covered front wheels.  This photo is included to show the more sensible uncovered version found on the majority of the cars.

1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS No. 90107 - Gooding Christie's Auctions photo set
The two-tone paint scheme serves to emphasize the voluptuous, spatted fenders.  Another nice view of the hood-windshield transition.

Long hood, long trailing edge fender and body profiles.  The nearly-horizontal hood line provides contrast to the curves to prevent the design from being overly rounded, hence less interesting.  Ditto the nearly straight profile taper towards the rear.

The trunk lid spine and chrome trim are features Figoni liked to employ on some of his late-1930s designs.

The covered front wheel openings required the fender's side bulges seen here.  I suppose Figoni's design was partly aerodynamically inspired and partly aesthetic.  From a practical standpoint, open front fenders are better. 

They had tiny tail lights in those days.

Now for some overhead views.

Although the 1930s trend was toward integrated, "envelope" bodies, Figoni's design has the major elements as distinct, teardrop-type shapes.  Headlights are the one major feature he chose to integrate -- on the catwalks.

1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS No. 90110 - RM Sotheby's Auctions photo
The dashboard.  Although in France one drives on the right side of a road, luxury French brands usually had English-style right hand steering positions in those days.