Perpignan

Perpignan is a city in Occitanie, in the south of France. We spend large parts of the year there, and mediate car events from the area. The series French classics is one of the series.

Sunday photo: Car meeting at the shopping centre

Posted 07/10/2024 by Terje Bjørnstad

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 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?

Ford Thunderbird mk2

1960 Ford Thunderbird

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

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.

We caught a glimpse of this Citroen Ami Break on its way to the car meet.

Citroen Ami Break series 2.

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.

See

Carre d'Or Perpignan

Photo Sunday: Perpignan 10-2023

Posted 02/10/2023 by Terje Bjørnstad

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

c15 — Rassemblement Vehicules Anciens du 66, 10-2023

Deutsch-Bonnet — Brooklands Summer Classic Gathering

The event's website – RVA66.com
Citroen Visa and C15

Photo Sunday - Freewheel

Posted 29/05/2023 by Terje Bjørnstad

During the Pentecost weekend, the city of Perpignan organized a vehicle fair with a wide range of themes. The photos in this week's Photo Sunday are from "Roue Libre", which loosely translates as "free wheel".

Rather M-Town than electric car

I had expected that the electric cars would be more in focus. One of the purposes of the event was that the car dealers could show off their electric cars and that the public could test drive them. BMW's stand rather focused on cars that belong in "M Town", where the following slogan applies: “M Town Where Too Much Is Just Right”. It plays on the fact that one should not be ashamed of driving in a fit car. BMW's electric cars were also there, but in Perpignan ordinary people don't dream of electric cars.

Photo Sunday: "Freewheel"

Alpine A110S from Alpine Beziers

Renault Alpine

Speaking of dreams, I think a lot of people dream of driving an Alpine A110 on a deserted country road. Alpine is French and owned by the Renault group. Their first new car model was a tribute to the legendary A110. Alpine is working on several projects, and last week showed off its first electric car concept at a car meet in Alpine's hometown of Dieppe. The car is a rally version of the Renault R5 concept car. It's probably too early to send it on tour.

Limited selection on Sunday mornings

On Sunday morning, not all the participants and companies had arrived. I was particularly interested in Retrofit where electric car drives are installed in classic cars, such as the Citroen 2CV. Retrofit was not there, nor were there any major innovations among electric cars. Peugeot showed off its new e-2008 with a range of over 400 km. Fortunately, the designers have now cleaned up the front part of the model. The Peugeot e-2008 is one of the most interesting models in terms of price, space and range for most people - both in Norway and France.

The local car club

The local car club Automobile Club Roussillon were present with beautiful classic cars which they drove in a separate lane around the park separated from the street system. The concept of "Roue libre" - or free wheel - largely applied to the beautiful cars that drove around at regular intervals and created a good atmosphere.

Peugeot has cleaned up the front of the e-2008.

The Citroen DS with a short wheelbase and 2 doors was used for Rally - and was also called Rally, I think.

Citroen DS 2 doors "rally"

The DS was made with a shortened wheelbase and 2 doors for rallying. I think the model in the picture was called Rally, but can't remember that it ever featured in Citroen's regular model range. The car looks really tough with its shortened rear and free wheel arches.

An unusual end to a legendary car. It's the first time I've seen one like that in real life.

Peugeot 403 Phase 1

Import from Brazil

Lately I've been seeing classic Volkswagen models produced in Brazil. I have also seen a unique Alpine A108 produced as Willys Interlagos in Brazil, as well as several Puma models based on Volkswagen. You'd think someone had sent local car enthusiasts on a group trip to Brazil? Now I know where the great cars come from. At the Roue Libre fair there was a local company that specializes in importing cars from Brazil, like the yellow car in the picture – a Puma GT 1600.

Lotus Elan

Alfa Romeo GTV in matching surroundings

MG MGB

Mercedes-Benz W114 Coupé

Reault 4 built as an open pickup.

See

Automobile Club Roussillon
Wheelbox 66 - import from Brazil

French classics 9

Posted 09/05/2023 by Terje Bjørnstad

It could have disappeared - the monthly car meet in Perpignan that has been running on the first Sunday of every month for 24 years. This spring, however, the organizers had had enough. They had grown tired of the ever-increasing number of BMWs and Mercedes-Benzes without classic status - with owners more interested in 'kids' and 'robbers' than cultivating a passion for old cars.

When the organizers tried to stop the influx of these cars, conflicts arose. Car meetings in Perpignan are run as a personal initiative. The organizer is free to limit access to the meetings.

But the matter has several sides. A broad event like this is of interest to many. Is it discriminatory to exclude certain vehicle groups? What criteria should be used as a basis for excluding "popular" street cars? Car model, year model, tuned engines and fat tires – or the drivers' appearance? This is a problem for other car meets as well. Earlier this year I was on my way to a car meet in England ONLY reserved for supercars. There, the organizers had made it clear in advance that people with Audis, BMWs and Mercedes were not welcome on the grounds that these vehicles are not special enough.

In Perpignan, the organizers have come up with a good solution with registration in the form of an annual pass and rules for how to behave. There are also requirements for the vehicles – age or that the vehicle is special and exceptional, etc.

I am happy that the organizers chose to continue and that many participants have appreciated the scheme. Last Sunday, not only vehicles that were old, but also rare, exclusive and special arrived to the delight of many.

Pictures

Ex Renault 4, Citroen Ami phase 2, MG 1300

Citroen BX 16V

Citroen BX GTI

This edition of the Citroen BX has a 16-valve engine of 1,9 liters producing 160 HP. It can do 0-100 in 7,9 seconds. The Citroen BX is a rare feature at car fairs. Where has everyone gone? This was a very popular model in the 80s. There were two Citroen BXs that had found their way to Perpignan this Sunday.

Citroen GSA X1

The Citroen GSA was the successor to the GS. A major improvement with the GSA was that it was styled as a hatchback coupé. The GSA X1 has been given sporty equipment, including round instruments and rear spoiler. The engine was 1300 ccm with 65 HP. The model was produced between 1983 and 1985.

Puma 1600 GTE

Puma 1600 GT

Puma 1600 GTE with engine from Volkswagen

Puma GT

Brazilian car factory that built light sports cars with mechanics from other Brazilian car brands. The Puma GT and GTE were built on chassis from Karmann Ghia (Volkswagen) and with engines from Volkswagen. This car is from around 1980 and has an air-cooled Volkswagen engine of 1600 ccm and 70 HP. The bodywork is made of fiberglass and the entire body weighs less than 700 kg. Rare car from Brazil to Perpignan.

Volvo Amazon Manor wagon on French plates

Volkswagen T2 Van from Brazil?

Renault Estafette (front), Citroen DS Pallas (rear)

Porsche 356A, Sud Classic Cars, St.Esteve

Renault 4 Sixties

Renault from the 80s with two sunroofs

Renault brought 60s nostalgia into a youthful version of the R4

Renault 4 Sixties

The Sixties was a campaign model of the Renault 4 GTL produced in 1985 in a limited edition. What made the variant special were special colors - both outside and inside. It also got two plexiglass sunroofs. The cars were equipped with the 1,1 liter engine and 4-speed gearbox which was operated via "umbrella gear". According to advertising at the time, Renault was targeting a young audience – perhaps in an attempt to make the Renault 4 cool again. The Renault 4 was easy to drive and offered plenty of space for a reasonable purchase price.

BMW 7 Series (E23)

1967 Ford Galaxy

Ford Capri 1700 GT XLR

Ford Capri GT 1700 XLR

The Ford Capri was produced both in England and in Germany. They used the engines they had. The car in the picture has a 1700 V4 engine manufactured in Germany. English Ford also had the V4 from the Corsair series which was also used in the Capri.

Peugeot 202

Peugeot 202 – family car and holiday car from the 40s

Renault 4CV

Indian motorcycle has started on the way home

Pre-war models. Packard and more.

volkswagen-bus-t1-t2-rva66

Carre d'Or

The car meet is held at one of the many shopping centers around Perpignan. Carre d'Or is located along the flyover between Perpignan city and the coastal town of Canet-en-Roussillon. Over the years, the event has been held in several places around the city.

After having lunch at one of the eateries there, we found these beautiful Volkswagen buses left after the meeting.