Rassemblement Véhicules Anciens du 66 organizes a "Coffee and Cars" meeting in Perpignan, France, on the first Sunday of every month. We are often there!
We have been here many times before – Carre d'Or shopping center outside Perpignan in France. On the first Sunday of each month, the parking area is used for a car meeting - in the same spirit as Cars and Coffee. Here you can brush up on your car knowledge with cars you may only see once in your life.
Maserati Gran Turismo.
Maserati or Dodge?
My wife is on the trip and she really likes Maserati because of the tasteful interiors with the Maserati monogram embossed into the leather headrests. Sometimes we talk about what we would buy if we won the Lotto - for example 130 million or something like that. As we stroll among the cars on display on the Carre d'Or, she asks me which car I would buy if we won the lottery. I'm not sure, though Maserati Gran Turismo is a good candidate. I'm not going to drive fast, and I'm not going to impress anyone. I just want a pleasant atmosphere out on the road. A little further away stands one Dodge Challenger SRT with the Hemi V8. But the interior of the Challenger is far less exclusive than the Italian. Then it also costs "only" a third of what you have to pay for a new Maserati Gran Turismo - but maybe that doesn't mean much when you've won the lottery?
Dodge Challenger SRT
Ford Thunderbird mk2
1960 Ford Thunderbird
The finest Porsche of the event was this Porsche 911 "backdated".
Backdated
I only needed to take a quick glance across the space where the Porsches were lined up to discover the finest of them all. It is a 1987 model "backdated" - a restomod with modern technology and the classic, original Porsche look.
BMW 2002
BMW 2002
The finest car of the event! Panhard Dyna X
Panhard Dyna X
The first model after the war had an aluminum body and a 2-cylinder air-cooled engine - which would eventually become a common concept for subsequent models.
On two wheels in the turn
We had the pleasure of driving behind a Citroen Ami Break on the way to the meeting. It was wonderful to see how it rocked and dove on the road, especially on the roundabouts. My wife thought the car was going to overturn with the two guys on board. A few decades ago, the car journalists speculated whether the Citroens could topple over. They don't. The car sways and tips, but the wheels are planted to the ground the whole time.
Citroen Ami Break series 2.
Peugeot 504 Coupe (series 2).Alpine V6 Turbo
Alpine V6 Turbo
The model was developed after Renault took over Alpine. The cars are built in fiberglass on a tubular steel frame with a V6 engine in aluminium, based on the so-called PRV engine. The Alpine GTA could be delivered with two engine choices, – V6 GTA with 160 HP and V6 turbo with 200 HP.
We are currently in France, and as usual have visited the monthly car meeting in Perpignan, more precisely at the shopping center Carré D'or. On Sundays, the center is closed, and then the organizers of the car meeting get to collect old, rare and exclusive cars, owners and other car enthusiasts.
Many of the cars appear regularly. On Sunday before lunch, the roads are quiet. Then you can safely drive with the "finbilen" and many people take out their bikes for the week's short trip. I myself am often out cycling at that time. Cycling is a recognized sport here, not just during the Tour de France. It's fun cycling on a country road to meet a bunch of cheerful, mature gentlemen on an excursion with old mopeds, or a nice old 2CV with the roof down.
At car meets like this, you often meet visitors from the neighboring towns, or newly minted fine car owners with their newly acquired vehicles. One of these was the Aventador in the main picture. It was difficult to take a picture, because everyone wanted to take a closer look at it. What a beast! It has a V12 of 6,5 liters and 700 hp visible through the tailgate. The car is native to the neighboring town and I think it's quite special to see a car like that with insects on the front, hot wheels and a bit of dust after being on the road. Cars like this should of course be driven - not used for decoration.
Another "golden" car is this Mercedes-Benz 600 - judging by the nameplate, a 1972 model. It had entered the back road of the Carré D'or, and we caught a glimpse of it before it was driven into the square.
1972 Mercedes-Benz 600 (W100)1972 Mercedes Benz 600
Palms and Americans
The palm trees at the shopping center have been planted. They grow well, but natural palms do not grow in the forests here. The palm trees and shopping center are reminiscent of the southern states of the USA. With some nice American cars under the Stars and Stripes, part of the parking lot was turned into Miami, or something like that.
People flock to old, rare and exceptional cars in Perpignan. Last Sunday, the 300th meeting took place. These cars are history and culture – and cars should be driven, not stand still.
Regular readers know the posts with photos from French car meets in Perpignan, France. We have a small house in France, and when we are there, I take the opportunity to pop in when the meetings are arranged - always the first Sunday of each month. The meetings are open to classics, youngtimers, rare and exceptional cars and are held at the Carré d'Or shopping center in the east of the city. There is no doubt that the meetings are very popular. Sunday's meeting was number 300 in a row.
I am not the only visitor who does not exhibit any car. There are many visitors - entire families looking at the beautiful cars. Fathers show cars that their grandparents drove around in. All work in RVA66 is done on a voluntary basis, and it's free for everyone to come and see. RVA66 stands for Rassemblement de Véhicules du 66 - collection of vehicles from 66 - department 66 is Pyrenees-Orientales.
Terje's cars has a separate page called Cars from A to Z. Here I enter pictures and descriptions of car models I have driven myself, or taken pictures of along the road or at meetings like this. Eventually, I can show different cars of the same model – different variants, year models and facelifts.
Here are the pictures from last Sunday. My wife and I took a Sunday trip here, walked for about an hour, went back and had Sunday lunch in a town square. The temperatures down here by the Mediterranean are currently lower than in Norway. A small consolation is that a glass of red wine costs NOK 32 and that the first cherries have gone on sale at stalls around the city.
German cars
BMW 700 Convertible
Had it not been for the small cars Isetta and BMW 700, BMW would not exist today. They were on the verge of bankruptcy during the 1950s when they bet heavily on large luxury models that people could not afford. The BMW 700 succeeded the Isetta-based BMW 600. It was a more grown-up car, but still with engines from BMW's motorcycle range – a 700cc 2-cylinder boxer engine. Besides the cabriolet, like the car in the picture, the BMW 700 could be delivered as a Coupé with a fixed roof and as a 2-door sedan.
BMW 2000 CS (1965-69)
Early coupe versions of BMW Neue Classe had a front reminiscent of a shark's jaw - hence the nickname "Sharknose". The nice coupé shape was carried forward in the BMW E9, but unfortunately without the tough front section. BMW E9
Mercedes Benz 190 "Ponton"
I was unsure whether the Mercedes-Benz 190 "Ponton" was offered in the same red color as the car in the picture, but after searching the color chart, I see that the color is probably called "Feuerrot". No doubt it must have been a bold color choice in the 1950s, but since Mercedes-Benz supplied cars that went into public service, this might have been a nice color for fire marshals and doctors making house calls. Mercedes-Benz W120
Volkswagen from Brazil?
Volkswagen in Rat Look
Perpignan has a local importer of cars from Brazil and lately several nice cars have appeared from there. I also think the red Volkswagen originates from Brazil, because of the windshield. At one point, European Volkswagens got larger windshields, something Brazilian cars probably didn't get.
Ford Escort mk1 Mexico
English cars
An early version of the Jaguar XK120 Roadster
Jaguar XK120 Roadster
The interior of the Jaguar XK120
Jaguar XK150
There is great interest in English cars in this French area. The finest car at the meet, in our opinion, was this early Jaguar X120 Roadster that appeared in the late 1940s (top photo series). A more modern X150 also took part in the meeting. Jaguar XK150
MG MGB V8
"Stylish color", my wife exclaimed when she spotted the lemon yellow MGB Coupé. Early V8 cars were fitted with Rover's 3,5 litre. Also notice the beautiful MG A in the picture below. MG MGB
MG MGA
Italian cars
I brought pictures of two Italian cars from the car meet at RVA66. The most special is probably the red Vespa 400. It has a 2-cylinder air-cooled stern-mounted scooter engine which, according to the specifications, should produce 14 horses and reach a top speed of 80-90 km/h. It can be registered as a heavy 4-wheel motorcycle (L7e) I think that if a new Ferrari and an old Vespa 400 are lined up next to each other in a place where most people travel, the Vespa will get the most attention. Autobianchi
Vespa 400
Autobianchi A112 Abarth
French cars
Renault 12 (facelift)
One of the most boring cars at the meet (according to my wife) was this Renault 12. I took the photo to complement an earlier post about this model – Renault 12. The Renault 12 is more conventional than other Renaults of the same time. The aim was to offer a lot of car for little money – a successful concept that Renault succeeded well with.
Renault 5 – the original
The Renault 5 is highly relevant as Renault's new electric car for the masses – a car that has been given a retro design similar to the original cars that saw the light of day in 1972. Now the first model is being brought to light again. Renault 5
Renault Floride Coupé
Renault Dauphine
This Renault Floride Coupé is pictured here on Terje's cars earlier. Floride is the first edition of this model. The next edition was called Caravelle. The reason why the Floride name was dropped was that the car was to be launched in the USA and there it was believed that Floride (Florida) would not work as a model name. I have also included a photo of a Renault Dauphine - one with an "Export" mark on the back - probably a model from 1964 or later which was also - or was to be - exported to the USA. Renault Florida - Renault Dauphine
On Sunday we visited the monthly collection of old, special, rare or exclusive cars in Perpignan. We arrived a little late, so people and cars were leaving the event. So good that people take out their beautiful cars on a Sunday, - not only for us who visit the event, but also for everyone who can view the beautiful vehicles along the surrounding roads.
American muscle cars
Do you remember "Smokey and the Bandit" with Burt Reynolds og Sally field who had been assigned to be a "decoy" for the police so that Jerry reed managed to transport a load of Coors beer from Texas to Georgia in 28 hours. To help with the task, they borrowed a Pontiac Trans Am. Today this would be called "product placement". I myself was a young man at the time and wished I was the one driving the Trans Am with beautiful Sally Field by my side.
I've seen several Pontiac Trans Ams - but they haven't been real Trans Ams, - or they've been in very bad shape. A pure Trans Am is a beautiful sight.
One could wonder what the film team behind "Smokey and the Bandit" would have chosen if they couldn't get their hands on a Trans Am. Ford Mustang? Then Burt Reynolds had to settle for a Ford Mustang mk2 – a car that never got the same muscle car status as its predecessor and successors. If the movie had been made today, maybe they could have chosen a Shelby Mustang?
1969 Ford Mustang GT
Shelby mustang
Air-cooled camping cars
Early Volkswagen buses are often called hippie buses, because they were popular among American hippies when the movement started in the late 60s. A hippie bus was a Volkswagen T1 decorated with flowers and psychedelic decorations. At the time, the Volkswagen buses were cheap both in acquisition and operation. Today, a nice hippie bus can reach staggering sums. On Sunday, this tough T1 with Belgian plates stopped by the car meet. It served as a means of transport and a home for the owner and his dog. I think that when you travel in such a great bus it is not difficult to make friends on the trip.
Transport and accommodation for visitors from Belgium
Nothing to put your finger on here
A small collection of Westfalias
Peugeot Classics
I can't remember the last time I saw a Peugeot 604. They have simply disappeared and no one seems to see any value in looking after them. Truth be told, Peugeot did not manage to create any prestige model of the 604. Many problems arose during a turbulent time for the company. But the Peugeot 604 looks fantastic!
Peugeot 604
Peugeot 604 SRDT
Peugeot 403
French and special
In France, the unsnobbish van Citroen C15 has the same status as the Volvo Duett had at home in Norway. The C15 is cheap, unsnobbish, simple and almost immortal considering that this was a model based on the Citroen Visa. One could probably also add that the C15 is a car that has a masculine and tough feel. The pictured C15 is, as far as I can see, a regular C15D with an external air intake and creative paintwork. The fact that it looks like a 4×4 can be defended by the fact that the C15, with its long suspension travel and drive on the front wheels, has impressively good passability in rough terrain.
Special Citroen C15D
Renault 15 phase 2
Abarth Fiat 500 695
Simca P60 Intendante
Round 2CV and square Golf
See
Rassemblement Vehicules Anciens du 66, 10-2023Brooklands Summer Classic GatheringRight On Fredrikstad
