Power About Sunbeam-Talbot
The Sunbeam Motorcar Company Ltd. was formed in 1905 to distinguish between motorcycles and bicycles from newly produced cars.
Sunbeam merged with the French company Automobiles Darracq S.A. on August 13, 1920. In order to import Talbots into England, Darracq bought the London-based firm of Clement-Talbot to become Talbot-Darracq. The addition of Sunbeam created Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq, or STD Motors however during the height of the Great Depression STD Motors went bankrupt.
Talbots were still a success at this time and in 1935 the company was purchased by the Rootes Group. Eventually selling the remainder of the company to William Lyons of SS Cars, Rootes Group headed by brothers William 'Billy' and Reginald Rootes, purchased Sunbeam from under Lyons just as the deal was supposed to close. Justifiably upset, Lyons changed the name of SS Cars to Jaguar.
The existing British Talbots were re-badged as Sunbeam-Talbots from 1938 on and were a combination of current Hillman and Humber chassis and quality Talbot coachwork. Subsequent Talbots used a Talbot badge and grille rather than the traditional Sunbeam badge and grille.
