French classics are not just about cars that are produced in France – but also cars that the French love. They often turn up at car meets like I was at last Sunday. An eldorado for anyone who likes French cars.
French brand identity
Volvo or Saab? Ford or Chevy? French brands also have their supporters. Renault, Peugeot or Citroen? If you like Renault, you also like the Alpine models now owned by the Renault group. In the past, the Peugeot dealer in my town sold Simca. Simca's still come in for service. Citroen took over Panhard in the mid-60s. It's not every day you see a Panhard in good condition. The car meet this Sunday was visited by nothing less than to Panhard cars. The main picture is a Simca Ariane I have not seen before. A Matra Bagheera and Talbot VF2 van is constantly visiting these meetings.
Dance son jus
The French term is used for cars that are authentic - lived a life without being refurbished or anything like that. In the southern, Catalan part of France, cars do not rust. This means that several cars still roll for their own machine on original plates. I caught my eye in a Van den Plas - the luxury version of the Austin/Morris 1300 in a condition that could be considered 'in its own right'. Usually it is French cars such as Citroen 2CV, Dyane and Méhari or Renault 4 - which arrive in such a condition. Many classics have of course been renovated according to all the rules of art. In this part of France, there are still mechanics who like to fix the old classics.
About the meeting
The meeting place is the area around the shopping centre Chateau Roussillon outside Perpignan. The meeting is open to all enthusiasts of old, rare or special vehicles – not just French cars. They meet on Sunday of each month - officially from 9.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. In practice, most people arrive around 10 and leave at exactly 11 to make it back for lunch. Sunday lunch with the extended family is the highlight of the week for many - including us Norwegians who live here.
To see the official photos on the association's website, you have to scroll long down the page - until you reach the image of a gray Renault 10. Click on the image and you will enter the association's Flickr page.
The French
The nice Simca 1100 VF2 van often stops by. The Renault 4 van in the background is native to my own French neighbourhood. Many vans are still used on a daily basis, even though they have long since become vintage vehicles. Citroen 2CV, Dyane-based Acadiane, Visa-based C150, Renault 5-based Express, - and most recently yesterday I saw two different Peugeot 404 pickups along the road.
Simca 1100
Simca Ariane/Vedette
Citroen, Panhard and Peugeot. The blue Citroen GS was an X1 – a sporty edition with round instruments. This car has an air-cooled boxer engine of 1015 ccm. The Panhard PL17 also has a small air-cooled engine. With 2 cylinders, the engine emits a special warm, muted "crunch" when it runs. A Panhard should not only be seen – it should also be heard. The Peugeot 404 had its life extended as a pickup/utilitaire. They are still in traffic, but it is rare to see a 404 sedan.
Citroen GS/GSA
Panhard
Peugeot 403
Peugeot 404
The Peugeot 205 is undoubtedly a classic - and there are quite a few of them - not only at car meets, but also on the road. They are actually quite common features in traffic. I like to take pictures of special cars and the 205 is, in my eyes, a special car. But I have to be discreet when taking pictures, as many of the owners do not consider their 205 to be either special or rare.
A Peugeot 205 GTI can pose everywhere where fine cars travel. As here, it cuts a good figure next to a Ferrari Mondial.
Cars for eccentrics
The main image is a Burton 2CV. There is a Dutch company that builds these cars by transforming existing 2CVs into likeable sports cars. The black Panther Kallista is one of several Panthers who visit the meet. It would seem that there is a good Panther environment in these parts of France. The white Excalibur got a lot of attention when it arrived with a humming V8 engine. The brand is a newer American copy of the 30s Mercedes-Benz 500K equipped with the Ford Mustang V8. Here it backs into place between the small French cars.
Other cars
The Honda S2000 is a roadster/sports car that is a gem for all Honda enthusiasts. As you know, Honda are good at engines. The 2-litre in the pictured car produces a whopping 241 HP. I took the photo of the Volkswagen 1500 (Type 3) because it was in exceptionally good condition. It looked like it was brand new. The old bestseller Ford F100 is no ordinary car in Europe. I don't know the history, but it looks like it has lived an unrestored life in a dry area like Arizona - or in the same local environment it is in now.
Renault Sport
Back to this with French brand affiliation. French cars like Citroen, Peugeot or Renault? For me, it is Renault that makes my heart beat faster. One of the reasons is the involvement in motorsport. Renault and Alpine are not known for putting big engines in small, light cars. They trim small engines, reduce the weight of the vehicle and create good driving characteristics - so that you can get quickly through tracks and rally tracks.
Which French car brand is closest to your heart?
Alpine A310
Renault 4CV
Alpine A110
See
