"Introduced in 1936, the Clement-Talbot 10hp was promoted as 'Britain's most exclusive light car'. A product of the Rootes Group, the newcomer was based on a modified Hillman Aero Minx chassis.The Clement-Talbot and then the Sunbeam Motor Car Company businesses fell into the hands of Rootes in 1935 and the new owner's strategy was clearly to use the prestige of the Talbot name for selling larger numbers of lower priced cars.
This Rootes' Talbot Ten was one of the first products of the Rootes strategy which intended to open Talbot's planned shift down-market and add a genuine small car to its proposed range. A star of the 1936 Motor Show it was a lengthened Hillman Aero Minx with a stronger chassis that was all updated at short notice by Talbot's Georges Roesch and rebadged, so adding another variant to the existing middle market saloon, the Hillman Minx. Reviewers described the car as an attractive refined and well-equipped small car.
This lovely restored four-seater convertible sports tourer is offered with a fantastic amount of history which includes copies of the original promotional documents and a copy of the original, hand-written, factory ledger showing the car to have been delivered new in July of 1936 to a Mr. Atkinson. Amazingly, the car has only had four owners throughout its 82 year life with the latest, a South Eastern former club organiser, having taken eight years to restore the car to its present glory. Whilst not totally original and sporting an upgraded Talbot 80 overhead valve engine with hydraulically assisted brakes, this wonderful example comes supplied with an original specification side valve engine that has been fully rebuilt and is ready to be fitted if desired. The car displays its original registration number, drives without fault and the engine is barely audible at tickover. The Whittingham and Mitchel body is in very good condition and the car presents very well in Jaguar British Racing Green with brown interior, black hood and new tonneau cover. The car has been on several long driving trips, including to France and reportedly never skipped a beat.
This Talbot Ten comes supplied with its V5C registration document, original handbook, plenty of marque and model history, photographic restoration record, award trophies, rebuilt side valve engine and even the copy of the original factory order ledger."