AS regular AROnline readers may know, I have a bit of a habit of buying unwanted pups, taking them in, throwing lots of money at them, then passing them on when I get bored. It’s an unhealthy affliction that I like to call CHPD (Compulsive Heap Purchasing Disorder) – and I think it’s a condition that a great many of you understand. Perhaps a few of you are fellow sufferers. I’ve decided that 2008 is the year that I’m going to kick the habit – and so far, three weeks in, I’ve been true to my word.
One car that always managed to transcend this undignified process was my Talbot Tagora 2.2GLS – a car purchased from eBay back in 2004 for the princely sum of £83. Allegedly owned by Lord Rootes (although no paperwork backs this up, just a bit of idle Coventry tittle-tattle), the car was a non-runner when purchased sight unseen while in a slightly inebriated state one Saturday evening. My mate Brian Gunn got it running for me again, and I had this bright idea to get it driving again, and live a happy Anglo-French life with my individually styled luxo-barge.
However, a dead gearbox and terminal (and I really mean terminal) rust rapidly put paid to the ambitious plan… and to this day I really haven’t spoken about this car. Well, the bottom line is that this car will never run again, of that I am pretty sure. It’s a shame really, because of all the heaps I own (and there are a few – although the fleet’s thinning out now) it’s the one that I get asked about the most, and I suspect the most likely to bring happiness to the site’s readers if it ever did make a triumphant return – despite not being a product of God’s wonderful motor company.
Nope – let’s just say that despite the photo, which paints a pretty positive picture, the Tagora is not in a happy state at all. Terminal (allow me to repeat that; terminal) rot in all the vital places, and its rapid spread (despite being dry-stored), mean that as time passes, this basketcase’s prospects are becoming increasingly hopeless. But let’s face it, does it really need to come back to the roads? After all, it looks great as a static ornament – a monument to all that was wrong about the PSA-Chrysler Europe merger.
So, I think this is one that is going to stay buried in its final resting place… to enjoy a quiet and dignified retirement. I love it to bits, so please don’t ask me to sell it. And please don’t offer to put it back on the road – I think it’s enjoying life in the Automotive equivalent of Eastbourne.
Is the Editor of the Parkers website and price guide, formerly editor of Classic Car Weekly, and launch editor/creator of Modern Classics magazine. Has contributed to various motoring titles including Octane, Practical Classics, Evo, Honest John, CAR magazine, Autocar, Pistonheads, Diesel Car, Practical Performance Car, Performance French Car, Car Mechanics, Jaguar World Monthly, MG Enthusiast, Modern MINI, Practical Classics, Fifth Gear Website, Radio 4, and the the Motoring Independent...
Likes 'conditionally challenged' motors and taking them on unfeasible adventures all across Europe.
- Concepts and prototypes : Hyundai/Rover Oden (1992) - 9 November 2023
- Opinion : So, maybe the Montego was the best they could do… - 8 November 2023
- The cars : Austin Montego (LM11) development story - 7 November 2023
What happened to this fine car. Was it just scrapped ? Did it give up parts to keep others alive ?
Quite right Keith. We must all respect the wishes of the dead and it sounds like this Tagora does not want to return to the road.