Miguel Sánchez
Any car company knows that competition serves at least two things. The first is its use as a test bed for new technologies that will end up in series vehicles. The second is the creation of a solvent and challenging brand image. Thus racing cars are not only the crown jewel in design plans, but also the fruit of determined corporate effort. In this sense, models such as Lancia LC2 they are a perfect example of it. With FIAT coordinating the efforts of Abarth, Lancia, Dallara Automobili and Ferrari to beat the Porsche 956s at Le Mans.
However, on other occasions the brands have not been so clear about entering the competition. Something that has not been an obstacle to the impetus of some engineers. So convinced of their idea that they have come to develop it behind the backs of the managers until they end up accepting it as a fait accompli. Thus, perhaps the most famous example is that of Zora Arkus-Duntov and her Corvette SS and Grand Sport. Both created in secret until they were discovered by those responsible for the brand, who finally ended up compromising with the whims of one of its star engineers.
A case that ended badly due to multiple mechanical failures caused by too light a development. Just the opposite of what happened with the 1979 Talbot Sunbeam Lotus. Which reached the top of the competition despite being born behind the brand's back after a first refusal of it. A story of initiative and tenacity in which the names of pilots as significant as Henri Toivonen or Guy Fréquelin. Together with Des O'Dell -Director of Chrysler Motorsport- responsible for the success of a model that achieved the Constructors' Title in the World Rally Championship four decades ago.
TALBOT LOTUS. THE MIX MADE BY DES O'DELL
Like Porsche, Lotus owes much of its billing to services as a technology consultant for multiple companies. In this way, the company founded by Colin Chapman is behind rally prototypes such as the 1982 Citroën Visa Lotus or the 1990 Opel-Lotus Omega performance saloon. Models that were born from the decided collaboration between different brands and not from the solitary and furtive work of a single man. Precisely the case behind the birth of the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, which emerged as a personal bet by Des O'Dell.
Convinced that the Sunbeam and its rear-wheel drive could end the Ford Escort's reign at Rally Great Britain, O D'ell arranged a meeting with Chrysler managers to discuss his idea. All this so that it was finally rejected due to the belief in a high cost of it. Reason more than enough for a Talbot that was going through serious financial problems, even needing state aid to be able to keep the staff. Even so, This intrepid engineer and sports director decided to carry out his idea by creating on his own a Talbot Sumbeam with a 907CV Lotus 250 engine.
Surprised by its good performance, he presented it to the same managers who had rejected his idea. Businessmen who, this time, were seduced by the charms of a model with a real chance of dethroning the Ford Escorts in what would be an excellent advertising campaign. From now on, Lotus and O'Dell worked together to manufacture the 400 copies required for homologation in Group 4 of the World Rally Championship. A project that survived the sale of Chrysler Europe to Peugeot in 1979 thanks to the fact that the French brand took the project as its own, thus acquiring the name of Talbot.
DIRECT TO THE WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
Since 1972 Ford has been winning the Rally Great Britain without interruption thanks to its Escort RS1600 and RS1800. A reign that was to dethrone the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, which had its premiere in 1979 with the impetuous Tony Pond at the wheel. A driver with an excessive tendency to push the car to its limits. Finishing more times embedded off the track than scoring after crossing the finish line. Thus, for the 1980 season Talbot preferred to trust Guy Fréquelin and a very young Henri Toivonen. Who won the Rally of Great Britain that season with only 24 years.
In this way - and also to various improvements in chassis, brakes and financing - the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus began to be a really competitive car. So much so in 1981 he won the Constructors' Title of the World Rally Championship despite dealing with such effective models as the Toyota Celica 2000GT or the Audi Quattro. In addition, Guy Fréquelin and his co-driver Jean Todt managed to finish second in the drivers' championship. Only surpassed by Ari Vatanen and his Escort RS1800 of the Rothmans Rally Team.
In this way, the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus went to the glory pages of the world of rallying. Also remaining as one of the most surprising and unexpected cars thanks to the coup that it imposed on its established rivals. A model powered by a cheerful and effective Lotus 911 engine, which It gave in the street version about 150CV at 5750 rpm while on the dirt tracks it went up to 250CV already offered by the version secretly developed by Des O'Dell. And it is that, oddly enough, various star models had to be born behind the back of the brand itself, which they would later cover with glory.
Photographs: Historics Auctioneers
P.D. The unit used to illustrate this article is a second series Talbot Sunbeam Lotus. A series model, although tuned to give similar performance to the World Rally Championship. It was auctioned last 2019 by Historics Auctioneers.
