Antonio Lago
Antonio Lago | |
|---|---|
| Born | 28 March 1893 Venice, Italy |
| Died | 1 December 1960 (aged 67) Paris, France |
| Occupation(s) | Engineer, entrepreneur |
| Known for | Founder of Talbot-Lago automotive brand |
Antonio Franco Lago (born 28 March 1893 in Venice, died 1 December 1960 in Paris) was an Italian engineer and entrepreneur in the automotive sector. In 1936, he took control of Automobiles Talbot S.A. following the collapse of the Anglo-French conglomerate S.T.D. Motors and established the racing brand Talbot-Lago. The French government honored him with the Legion d’Honneur for his contributions to elevating France's automotive reputation.
Early life
Lago was born in Venice in 1893, and his family later relocated to Bergamo, where his father held the position of municipal theatre manager. Throughout his life, Lago formed relationships with prominent individuals including Pope John XXIII and Benito Mussolini. He earned an engineering degree from the Politecnico di Milano. In 1915, he enlisted in the Italian Air Force, eventually attaining the rank of major during the First World War.
Politics
As one of the founders of the Italian National Fascist Party, Lago eventually turned into a critic of fascism. This opposition led to a serious altercation with Benito Mussolini and prompted his escape to France. In a notable incident in 1919, he defended himself against fascist youth assailants using a hand grenade, which resulted in his permanent move to Paris.
Engineering
Lago's career included working for Pratt and Whitney in Southern California before relocating to England in the 1920s, where he adopted the name Anthony. He acted as a representative for Isotta Fraschini in Mayfair and took on the role of technical director at L.A.P. Engineering. Subsequently, as director of Self-Changing Gears Ltd, owned by Walter Gordon Wilson and John Siddeley, he championed the Wilson pre-selector gearbox. He secured export rights from England and influenced key manufacturers such as S.T.D. Motors.
Automobiles Talbot S.A.
In 1933, Antonio Lago moved to France to oversee Automobiles Talbot S.A., the struggling French subsidiary of S.T.D. Motors. The company faced difficulties due to outdated manufacturing facilities and obsolete product lines, problems exacerbated by Louis Coatalen’s excessive spending on Sunbeam’s Grand Prix racing efforts during the 1920s. Sunbeam’s heavy borrowing contributed to S.T.D. Motors’ financial downfall in 1934, leading to the sale of profitable units like Clément-Talbot (Talbot London) and Sunbeam to the Rootes brothers. However, Automobiles Talbot S.A. remained unsold because of substantial debts owed to French banks.
Described as a "ruthless businessman with considerable charm," Lago persuaded S.T.D. Motors’ directors in 1933 that he could turn around Automobiles Talbot France within eighteen months. His approach emphasized reducing expenses, manufacturing lightweight sports cars, and utilizing motorsport both for development purposes and brand promotion—insisting that race cars maintain close ties to production vehicles.
Following Automobiles Talbot S.A.’s entry into receivership at the end of 1934, Lago converted his export rights for Wilson gearboxes into an option to purchase the factory and equipment located at Suresnes. By mid-1936, along with investors, he acquired the company for £63,000 (approximately €40,000 in 2012), precipitating S.T.D. Motors’ liquidation.
Marketing
Walter Becchia, who later became known for designing the Citroën 2CV engine during World War II, joined Sunbeam’s racing division within S.T.D. Motors in 1923 and developed the initial Talbot-Lago T150 model by June 1934. Antonio Lago masterminded its promotion by entering three vehicles painted with the French Tricolour at a Concours d'Elegance held at Bois de Boulogne; these were driven by well-known female racers dressed accordingly. The same cars were subsequently displayed to members of the French automotive industry and at a newspaper-sponsored concours event. Although sales were sluggish due to economic recession and limited racing victories, Lago generated significant attention by covering 100 miles within one hour at Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry.
Scandal
Following the company's achievements in sportscar competitions, Lago revealed plans for a 3-litre V16-powered vehicle intended for the 1938 Grand Prix circuit. He obtained a 600,000-franc grant from the Comité de la Souscription Nationale pour le Fonds de Course, a governmental organization supporting motor racing. However, the V16 model never came to fruition. It is widely believed that these funds were instead allocated towards building a manufacturing facility for Pratt & Whitney aircraft engines.
Business
Although the company faced receivership on four occasions, Lago continued to run the enterprise until 1958, when he ultimately transferred ownership to Simca.
Death and commemoration
Antonio Lago was honored with the Legion d’Honneur by the French government in recognition of the distinction he brought to France through his involvement in motorsport. He passed away in Paris in December 1960 and was laid to rest in Predore, where he had lived for many years.
See also
References
- Alain Spitz, Talbot. The Talbot-Darracq to Talbot-Lago, published EPA, 1983. ()