In 1903, The Clément-Talbot motor company was founded by a conglomerate made up of Charles Chetwynd-Talbot, Adolphe Clément, Baron Auguste Lucas and Emile Lamberjack. The company began to manufacture its cars from its base in Ladbroke Grove, North Kensington, London.

Late 1903 saw the introduction of a 14HP Four Cylinder model that was marketed as ‘The Invincible Talbot’ the car was of new design and was claimed to be ‘as silent as a steam engine’. The car was capable of upwards of 40mph, carrying 4-5 people and benefited from light steering and drive via a cone clutch.

‘DL74’ is an example of this 1903, 14HP Clément-Talbot. With the registration appearing on the car from new, the 74th car registered on the Isle of White. Much of its early history is unknown however the car first surfaced in the 1920s when it was owned by a milkman Mr Morris. Morris owned the car from the early 1920s until 1964, using the car to deliver his Milk round. The car was said to have more of a platform at the back than a rear body and that he had no idea what the car was. As he aged the car was parked up and left to decay.

In 1964 the car was first introduced to the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain by a Mr J Golding from the Isle of Wight, who had bought the remains of a car in a poor state. The next evidence of the car was when it was purchased by a Mr JR Frayne, believed to be in the same poor condition, in 1977. Mr Frayne completed an extensive restoration on the car and it was put forward and subsequently dated by the VCC in 1980. Mr Fayne completed the London to Brighton Run with the car in 1980,81,82,83 and 84. By 1985, the car was in the ownership of Mr TL Roberts of Glamorgan. Mr Roberts entered the car for the LTBR in 1985, 86 and 87 at which point the VCC records end.