Voitures Anciennes

[Oldblueraincoat]

Nice collection [mention]RobertArthur[/mention] - Here a few more

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[Spardo]

The Oldarki Citroen is an almost accurate clone (including bright colour) of the fish and chip van which comes to our bar every couple of weeks. They took it to England for the conversion apparently.

[RobertArthur]

[RobertArthur]

Some time ago we visited the "Musée des voitures présidentielles", in Sauvigny-le-Bois, a little north of Avallon in the Bourgogne. It was very warm that August 2008. Near an imposing castle, two large granges. No visitors in sight, would they be open? Behind the counter a French gentleman, the owner himself. And a panel with the inscription: Photos interdites. Inside an enormous collection of presidential cars from all over the world. Each car opened a window to a past that sometimes still seems close, like yesterday, but the years tell a different story. There was the Simca of de Gaulle. Which, by the way, came back on the market in 2011. And also the illustrious Citroën DS in which General de Gaulle narrowly escaped an attack in le Petit-Clamart in 1962. In total 187 bullets were fired by automatic weapons: only 14 hits were counted on the DS afterwards. Phlegmatic comment of le général when they arrived with several flat tyres at the little airport of destination: "Ils ne savent pas tirer". Not the first time: on 15 August 1914 he came under machine-gun fire from the Germans when he and his company tried to capture a bridge over the Meuse at Dinant in Belgium. Many dead, he was carried off wounded with a bullet in his knee.

History lessons, each car its own story. I didn't take any pictures inside, I already got the impression that the exploitation of this private museum was not a real moneymaker, more a hobby of an enthusiastic collector that got out of hand. New fiscal regs in 2010, so continuing this private hobby was probably not possible, the museum closed its doors. Where have they gone, all these cars? Auctions and to "official" museums where they acquired several of these cars with tax payers money. For them a win/win scenario.

The black limousine in the yard outside: from Washington DC to somewhere in la France profonde, the car that once transported Jacqueline Kennedy in 1963, the funeral of John F. Kennedy. I sat down on a bench for a while, looking at this black limo, enjoying the sunshine but also a moment of contemplation.

[RobertArthur]

A nice Citroën Mehari:

[Oldblueraincoat]

Some old favourites

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[RobertArthur]

A classic British car, not in France this time as you may have noticed. There is however - pure coincidence - a link with France. Parked in front of this house: "Le Temps Retrouvé - livres. Librairie Française". Bonus link to the USA included: John Adams lived here from 1781-1782.

[RobertArthur]

Those were the days, small footprint cars, an old Renault 4CV in action this afternoon:

[Bayleaf]

Suddenly remember I had a collection (of photos!) from a rallye in our village back in 2012. I set up a camera at the end of our road to take photos as they went past .....The first photo is of the créme de la créme taking pride of place within the chateau walls!

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[Bayleaf]

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