The 2.3-Litre Talbot 90s stunned the racing world by coming home 3rd and 4th at the 1930 24 Hours of Le Mans. With the arrival of the more powerful 3-litre AV105 in 1931, these Talbots would go on to dominate the 3-Litre class. Four Works racers were constructed, and were ran by British racing team Fox and Nicholl. They were assigned the famous registration numbers: “GO51”, “GO52, “GO53, and “GO54”. Chassis number 31051 famously wore the registration “GO51”.

Making its competition debut at the Brooklands Double Twelve on 9 May 1931, drivers Brian Lewis and Johnny Hindmarsh proved the Talbot’s impressive pace by coming home 2nd overall and 2nd in class. This set the scene for the car’s biggest test: the 1931 24 Hours of Le Mans.

With Bentley out of the picture, little thought was given to Talbot’s latest development and through a field packed with talent and giants of the sport such as Divo, Chiron, Howe, and Birkin, came 31051. Piloted by Lewis and Hindmarsh, chassis 31051 led the sister cars during the 24-hour race until the duo noticed the fuel tank was loose and pitted. Mechanics found the chassis had cracked above the rear axle—likely a result of the rigorous Double Twelve. The decision was taken to retire, with honours going to the sister car, “GO53” in 3rd-place.

Following Le Mans, chassis 31051 was fitted with a replacement early type narrow front spring chassis and a new engine, numbered “AV21” (which it retains today). It continued to distinguish itself on track, coming 4th overall and 1st in class at the RAC Tourist Trophy and 2nd overall and 1st in class at the Brooklands 500-Mile race. Where in a bid for overall victory in this Formula Libre race it was re-bodied as an attractive monoposto.

For 1932, the other three team cars were rebuilt with new chassis, as such, this car is the only one of the ‘GO’ cars to feature a 1931-style chassis and Perrot shaft brakes. Its glittering career continued with a spectacular run at the 1932 Brooklands 500-Mile Race, where Lewis and land speed record legend John Cobb finished 3rd overall and 1st in class.

The Great Depression brought an end to Talbot’s racing ambitions at the close of the 1932 season, but so enamoured was Arthur Fox of Fox and Nicholl with chassis 31051 he bought the car from Talbot, having a close-coupled saloon body fitted at the same time. For reasons of administrative convenience, it was renumbered as chassis 31080 in order to run the car with his personal registration number “APF 999”—matching his initials—using the car regularly for the next 20 years.

In the 1950s, ownership transferred to Brooklands racer Charles Mortimer, who in turn sold it to renowned Talbot collector and marque authority, Anthony Blight. While in Blight’s care the car’s original identity of “31051” was rightly restored, with the registration number “GO51” returned. A partly new body replicating the original Le Mans example was fitted, and it remained in the Blight family collection for half a century. The car was acquired by the consignor directly from the family in the early 2000s and has since become a fixture at the great road rallies and leading historic races, competing at the Mille Miglia Storica on no fewer than six occasions as well as being a regular entrant at the Le Mans Classic.

This hugely significant pre-war sports racer achieved remarkable feats in period, winning in the cradle of motorsport and punching well above its weight at Le Mans and elsewhere. That its competition career has continued only makes its story more special. Highly eligible and well proven, this fabulous British sports racing car is a golden ticket to all major historic racing events.

The car is offered for sale with a period close-ratio “crash” gearbox, fuel tank, a set of 18-inch racing wheels, and the trophy for its 3rd-place finish in the 1932 Duke of York Trophy race.