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The Invincible Talbot For Sale (1915) edit C24053 | | | http://www.classicrestorations.org.uk/showvehicle.php?id=17ℑ=1 | | Known as the `The Qantas Flyer`
The `Invincible` Talbot 4CY 15/20 HP was introduced in 1913. This particular vehicle was ordered in January 1915 and delivered in chassis form to the Canada Motor and Cycle Agency in Brisbane, Australia, on the 21st June 1916 where in 1918 a fledgling aircraft company, later to become Qantas Airline, took delivery of the first motor car for the company. The chassis was fitted with a very rudimentary flat bed loading deck and double wheels, but very little else.
The Talbot`s duties included trips to the outback as a service/repair and rescue vehicle to repair downed aircraft and collect aircrew. It has been recorded that it even carried complete engines to downed aircraft!
The car was last reported used in the late 20s and we believe it was found 65 years later on land adjacent to one of the original Qantas sites.
The restoration was started in Australia but, due to other financial commitments, it was placed on the market, probably for the first time in its life. Qantas were offered it for their museum, but, by the time the powers that be said yes, it had been sold and was on its way to England.
During restoration of the chassis, we began to appreciate the quality of the engineering, advanced design and use of alloys by the Talbot company, earning its considerable reputation as a fine thoroughbred sporting vehicle.
The problem that now faced us was to design and build a body that was in keeping with the period but not detracting from the vehicle`s history. After lengthy research, it was decided to design and construct a period coachwork style of a balloon car with the rear deck echoing the flat bed history.
This interesting vehicle was entered in the 2002 Liege Rome Liege Rally only a week after the restoration was completed, and finished, with only one minor breakdown. It was the oldest entry in the 5-day event
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