The 1913 Talbot 15hp (20/30hp) Works Hill-Climber is a rare and legendary survivor from the golden age of Edwardian motorsport. Built by the Clement-Talbot factory as a pure competition machine, this lightweight, stripped-down racer was engineered specifically to conquer British hill-climb events.
Powered by a highly tuned 4-litre four-cylinder engine delivering approximately 120 horsepower at 3,000 rpm, it combined advanced features: including a robust chassis, full-pressure lubrication, larger valves, and stronger internals, with ferocious performance. These qualities helped the Talbot works team earn the legendary nickname “Invincible Talbot” as they dominated the 1913 hill-climbing season.
Chassis number 5473, registered LF 3807, is the sole known surviving example of these factory hill-climb specials. It was driven by works driver George Day and later owned and raced by the legendary Captain Sir Malcolm Campbell. More than a century later, this extraordinary machine remains a powerful symbol of pre-World War I British engineering grit and the raw, untamed spirit of early motorsport.
Below is a stunning set of photographs capturing the 1913 Talbot 15hp (20/30hp) Works Hill-Climber in all its glory.
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