Simply French

[RobT]

I took the 25 along to this event at Beaulieu yesterday and had a good day out. Lots of friendly, chatty folk and messrs Barrett and Cox were there in Gary's Simca so we all had a good old chinwag

 

I didn't take many decent pics but I'm sure Mr B can add some better ones to this lot

 

 

 

Lovely and beige 5 Le Car 2, mmmm

 

 

 

 

 

Roger's R11 TXE as part of the Bond in Motion exhibition

 

 

 

Both these cars were immaculate and owned by the same bloke I think. The Horizon is a lot more orange in real life, this picture sucks but you get the idea

 

 

Messrs Barrett and Cox on their way out before a clutch problem struck

 

 

And me on the way home seeing some cows in the New Forest, as you do

 

[trigger]

Excellent photos Rob!, Garys Simca looks fab even if it does have a dodgy clutch, I'm looking forwards to seeing it in the flesh at the weekend myself.

[Spiny Norman]

Ace pictures mate, love these old Simcas.

[RobT]

Before this weekend I'd never given Simcas much thought, but it makes me want one now. Gary's is ace.

[barrett]

This was a nice little event - small, but some really unusual stuff there. I think it clashed with the big 2CV meet that Ian attended, so there wasn't actually a single 2cv there. Hopefully this will become a regular annual event (this was the first one) and it'll get a bit bigger each year, though I'm not sure where they'd stick the cars if many more turned up.

 

Nice to meet you Rob and have a good crawl over your lovely R25.

 

Here's some other highlights

This GS Break was MEGA. The owner had a massive tool kit in the back which he lent us later in the day when we had a MASSIVE failure to proceed just outside of Beaulieu

 

Only Ami there was this nice Super

 

This mega early Bagheera was giving me a proper old trouser tent. Gary reckons they look shit but he's RONG

 

The other motor that was getting me hot under the collar was this 24BT owned by a proper Sid & Doris type couple

 

The only other Panhard there was this equally lovely Dyna Z

 

Proof that not all French cars are shit(e)

 

....but most of them are

 

See?

Thanks to all those who stopped to help, despite how futile it was. Also thanks to the guy in the late '90s BMW 5-series who shouted "Get a proper car!" as he drove past, Gary's seen the error of his ways and is going to weigh the Simca in and get a new 1-Series on finace!

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

 

Lovely. I do like good Panhandle. Moist for that GS as well -what a great looking thing they were.

[meggersdog]

Great detail on those Facel Vega's. Does the other rear lens have an F stamped on it ?

[garycox]

This was a pretty good day out, and it was good to meet another friendly AS member!

 

I didn't expect to see another Simca 1301(!) and the 1500 estate was lovely. There was a MASSIVE VARIETY of other stuff too, although the actual Beaulieu bit was significantly smaller and rubbisher than I remember it being. It's no Stondon that's for sure!

[HillmanImp]

That Panhard is sodding lovely. I never knew they made the Bagheera that early. Well you live and learn.

[Angrydicky]

That GS is stunning, as is the orange Horizon, great stuff lads. 10/10

[RobT]

There was a MASSIVE VARIETY of other stuff too, although the actual Beaulieu bit was significantly smaller and rubbisher than I remember it being.

 

Arrrgh, that bloody voiceover bloke (who sounded like Bernard Ingham). He must have said MASSIVE VARIETY ninety times! It was like being at an Andrew Greenwood event

 

For the money I'd prefer Gaydon museum over Beaulieu any day, and the 20 quid normal admission seems a bit steep.