Spotted's Spottings (2024 France holiday #5 06/10/2024)

[wuvvum]

That maroon R12 is a thing of beauty.

[Pieman]

On 12/27/2021 at 9:04 AM, Spottedlaurel said:

 

One of the local garage owner's toys.

I overtook that on a motorway somewhere a few months ago, but I can't remember where now.

[Spottedlaurel]

On 10/25/2020 at 7:16 AM, Spottedlaurel said:

I'm grouping this lot together as they came from just one trip out, a rare day when I was on my own and had time to waste. Ended up randomly driving around housing estates and suburbs, going to a boot sale, visiting a toy fair and driving along the coast, including stopping for tea and a teacake at a seaside cafe I've always wanted to frequent.

This Micra has since been scrapped, it's now in the yard where @greengartside also found the Mazda 929.

The L-reg Camry saloon has also been sold by its long-term owner, he did offer it to me but I'd moved by that time and had got rid off all my Camry stuff. No tax or MoT showing on it so I don't know if it's been properly scrapped or exported.

An attempt was made by @YugoLada to save the V-reg Mazda 121, but the garage had already already loaded it up with scrap so that one is now no more.

After that sad start, I'll move onwards with this year's holiday finds. It'll take a while and won't be complete yet as I'm still in France at the moment - who knows what else I'll find?......

M25 spot. Anything seen on the way down to Newhaven counts, this was it for a busy Friday evening.

First French sighting. Whenever I see a Traction Avant I think of an old article I read in something like Road & Track, where a chap used one in an attempt to set a long distance driving record. I don't know if he was successful and as I recall the article ended on a slightly sad note. I need to unearth it.

 

Compare and contrast '90s Japanese people carriers. By this time we'd got to Tours and were heading across country between autoroutes, so there was much more chance of seeing interesting stuff. Also caught sight of a Mk1 Espace, for example.

Driving straight through a town rather than around the ring road paid off when I found this charming 4CV. I had a somewhat one-sided chat with the owner as my French is pretty poor, but he seemed pleased that I liked it and showed me the super-clean engine bay.

This stern-looking couple followed us through the same town.

The first of many. As other AS people in France have noted, most now seem to be in rather smart condition rather than everyday hacks.

The same cannot be said of 21s. Still a surprising number of them in use, mostly the 5-door hatchback, but most looking somewhat time-worn.

 

These were seen in the same village.

 

 

 

The batch above were all seen in/around a garage, where they also had......

Ding-ding ding-ding ding-ding! As I tediously mentioned to several people at FOTU the previous Saturday, finding the Holy Trinity of Renault 30, Peugeot 604 and Citroen CX is my aim whenever visiting France. As yet I haven't managed the other two but I remain optimistic....

 

 

I'd seen this place on Google Maps, a couple of fields full of old military vehicles. Apparently they're Simca Marmons, part of a project to recondition/remanufacture them for use in North Africa and presumably other places needing transport in challenging terrain. More here: https://actu.indre.cci.fr/entreprises/rbh-industrie-constructeur-eco-industriel and here https://business.lesechos.fr/entrepreneurs/idees-de-business/0603487330124-rbh-industrie-la-pme-du-berry-qui-reve-de-faire-revivre-les-camions-sumb-339083.php

The fields were also home to goats who seemed quite excited to see some visitors.

 

Back on the autoroute.

I presume that at least some of this load belonged to holidaymakers whose trip hadn't ended so well, whether through mechanical FTP or accident. A salutory reminder to take care out there.

Obligatory tatty 205 at the supermarket, an XRD in this case.

First (and so far only) 4. Previously I've got to the point where I don't photograph all those I've seen, as they've been sufficiently commonplace not to keep getting excited about, but that certainly isn't the case this year.

 

Classic brown colour on this mid-period Visa. A few C15s still to be seen, photos to come.

French division of the SVM, beng enthusiastically driven. As mentioned in the Grin thread there's a hillclimb on this road next Monday, looking forward to that.

Good to see a few Supercinq 5s still in everyday use (there will be more here). This tidy example is a GTR Saga, which seems like an amusing juxtaposition.

More to follow, another day.

[MorrisItalSLX]

3 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

That rear garnish really is hanging on by a thread.

[mk2_craig]

Great spots SL, as ever! I’m heading home from La Baule tomorrow, have got slack in recent years so little to report yet but saw an identical Visa to yours somewhere in the Vendee. Also a Dyane this morning in either unrestored, or restored a long time ago, condition (but on pre 2009 format plates). And my son has figured out how the new format registrations work, the highest he’s noted so far is GH prefix so those cars you snapped with GG are pretty recent issues. 

[Spottedlaurel]

I've been back at home so I now know the full extent of what I saw on the two weeks away. A few things I'd like to find, but didn't, and as ever a few unexpected gems. Some more from the first few days......

Didn't see many 605s (and I ended up finding this same one in another town a few days later).

This next batch were seen at a place where they had some good stuff back in 2019, so I hoped it would be worth stopping:

Second day of the holiday and I've found a 6!

Unusual American stuff. Wonder if the Seville is/was a diesel?

 

It'd be nice to think this will see the road again.

A bit further along the same road, someone in the car mentioned seeing some old cars. They only have themselves to blame.....

Certainly looked like it was worth further investigation.

Minutes after seeing the 6 I find a 10.

Luckily there was a road up beside this place, so I could get a look from the other side. J7 van, Merc's and Renault 5 good to see, but the Opel?!

Best shot I could get, looks to be a fairly straight survivor from Paris.

That's it there, but as a bonus this tidy dropside Master was on a driveway nearby:

And slowly getting back before the shopping melted.....

This wasn't quite as out-of-use as it first appeared, it'd gone when we went past again a few days later.

Ex-Sapeurs Pompiers J9, now a camper?

Next batch to follow......

[Spottedlaurel]

Shopping safely back home, it was time to head back into town for a show and demonstration of vintage agricultural equipment. I'll keep the majority of that for the Tractorshite thread, but from attending back in 2019 I hoped there would be some other stuff to be seen on a sunny Sunday and I wasn't disappointed......

Inevitable that there'd be one of these somewhere.

At the show:

Properly old things.

Closer look at the Panhard, apparently a 1951 Dyna X86. Beige one alongside it is a '57 Dyna Z15 which was on display last time I attended.

Didn't see so many Meharis this year, but then we were some distance from the coast where they are very popular.

This Dauphine drove past and later found its way into the show.

This 403 was my favourite.

Most of the tractors were of the cabless and older-looking variety, but I thought this tidy Zetor was particularly AS-worthy.

Lots of other stuff around town:

 

 

 

At first I thought there was a bit of odd-panel work going on here, then realised it was extreme fading.

 

230E and 300D respectively. Coincidentally in the same car park, I can imagine going back in 5+ years' time and seeing them still in day-to-day use.

This Color Line edition was a bit tidier than most of the daily driver 205s.

This 75 apparently a 2.0 diesel.

Ex-NL Starlet still around from 2019.

Quite a few 21s seen. Not sure if this one was out of action, although it was tidier than some I saw still in use.

 

And this is why I enjoy my French holidays so much. Wandered back to the car after a pleasant afternoon and this was parked just a few spaces along. No way of knowing if it's enthusiast-owned or just someone's everyday transport, possibly the latter with the cost of used cars in France. Seems to have been local for a long time and apparently they don't put salt down which must have helped its cause.

[sierraman]

How come there’s so many interesting old cars still on the road there? Rural France looks great, I’d heard houses etc were fairly cheap there?

[mk2_craig]

That Sierra is awesome! And love that tat hoard in the open barn, France is great for people hanging onto (relatively) worthless old chod in bulk, presumably because the land values mean it is practically free to do so. 

[Spottedlaurel]

15 minutes ago, sierraman said:

How come there’s so many interesting old cars still on the road there? Rural France looks great, I’d heard houses etc were fairly cheap there?

Hmmm, good question. Cost of living, kinder climate (in some areas at least), different culture? The British chap who runs the place we stayed at says it's cheaper to buy used cars in Germany or Portugal, but that at least getting repair/maintenance work done is cheaper/easier. From that I assume the garages have more knowledge/interest in keeping older things going, because for many people it's a necessity.

Yes, it seems that comparable houses are cheaper in many areas there. Older places don't seem to be of so much interest to many of the locals - they don't seem to build vast, sprawling estates like we do, but don't seem to worry about putting up a few new houses on the edge of a village where it would be difficult/impossible to get planning permission here.

 

[Spottedlaurel]

8 minutes ago, mk2_craig said:

That Sierra is awesome! And love that tat hoard in the open barn, France is great for people hanging onto (relatively) worthless old chod in bulk, presumably because the land values mean it is practically free to do so. 

That shed was alongside a place that did car bodywork repairs and paintwork, so I'd like to think they are due for restoration or at least being saved in some way.

[Richard_FM]

Great pictures they remind me of my holidays in France, especially the second one in 1993 when there was still a lot of 1970s-80s cars still in everyday use.

[Spottedlaurel]

On 8/29/2022 at 11:23 AM, Richard_FM said:

Great pictures they remind me of my holidays in France, especially the second one in 1993 when there was still a lot of 1970s-80s cars still in everyday use.

The first holiday Mrs SL-to-be and I took together was France in 1993. I can only wish I took more photos back then, sadly there's no way of downloading the image I have in my head of a tatty Datsun 220C.

Anyway, I'm making amends now......

This next batch were all seen on a morning bread run to the next village along. I needed an excuse to go there, it was very productive back in 2019 with the best that time being a Renault 14.

 

Typically French vans. The Estafette appeaed to have been out of use for some time.

 

Street furniture. The 309 was there in 2019, as was a Golf Cabriolet just visible behind the little Suzuki/Opel. Sadly no sign of the 305 estate that was here previously.

Appeared to have been out of action for a little while. Miss SL has expressed interest in getting one of these, as an eventual replacement for the Avensis SR. Would sit nicely in the family fleet with her BF's MR2 and my LS400 (if I can get it back on the road).

Quick trip into town the next day......

 

First thing I saw was this pair, I think just there by coincidence.

Civic looked to be a visitor from Paris. Don't know what was going on with the Clio...

 

Very tidy. However, now I've looked at it a few times I'm mildly bugged that they didn't have a black top to the rear bumper.

Only Corsa of this generation seen on the road (well, in a covered supermarket car park here but you know what I mean).

Off to an evening food market in another nearby town.....

 

 

 

'90 bilge.

I usually see a Liteace or two on each trip. Also caught sight of an older, square-fronted version on the road.

Although though I did see one or two others, these were certainly outnumbered by Citroen C15s.

Typically French livestock carrier.

Finally, my top find for this particular day:

 

Very nice indeed.

[Spottedlaurel]

The "Saga" continues....

See what I did there?....

This appears in the background of a few photos, never saw it move and it was there when we last visited.

See, there it is again.

2.5 V6 apparently, not the expected diesel.

Sills looked a little tender.

Nice. These RGs do look attractive.

I think this was the first AX I managed to photograph. It's a Mutine, I think yet another low-spec special edition.

Haven't got a clue what the writing on the RR signifies. Same place had these for sale on the forecourt:

 

Petrol 406 with just under 100,000 kms was up for 4,490 Euros, Mercedes at 4,900 and the diesel Sonata with 238k was priced at 3,990.

Estafette was advertising a CT testing station. Blimey, it was hot on this day.

Village life.

 

Good to see a 2CV with a bit of patina. The RX did a fine job of providing family transport for the five of us.

Now halfway through the holiday, next instalment to follow....

[Spottedlaurel]

Boot sale on a Sunday always a good place to look out for stuff:

One of three beige Dyanes seen the same day. Family were amused by the chap in the background who looked disturbingly like me in 10 years' time.

 

Seen a couple of these Aixam Megas on previous trips. I believe they're based on AX running gear and I suppose they were intended as a modern Mehari. Interesting modular bodywork.

I'd been a bit 'dry' on 19s up to this point, but started to see a few normal ones as well as this tidy Cabriolet.

See, another one. Also a 104 at the back, maybe a 504 on the left?

On the subject of older Peugeots....

 

Marvellous.

106s not usually on my radar, but this Kid looked very original and was good to see on the older format plates.

Smart.

Tractor looked like it was still in use. 220D a long-term resident, Streetview shows it there in 2010. Can't say about the child's car...

Miss SL glimpsed this one, necessitating turning around to see what the "old car" was. BX on black plates, worth the effort.

I don't recall seeing too many Mk1/2 Mondeos. Apparently this one's a 1996 1.8, the first of a few '90s Fords seen in the same town.

Difficult to tell if this was a 'proper' older model.

 

These were all in the same street.

Continuing with the theme.

Another of the beige Dyanes. Sad to see buildings like this empty.

Nice 2000. I hope they had the hood down once they were on the move again. This was another large building that was for sale, and looking a little sorry for itself.

As seen here along with a representative spread of small cars.

[mk2_craig]

I thought the sale prices for the Sonata etc looked about right, then I remembered France doesn’t use francs for its currency any more. 

[Spottedlaurel]

On 9/10/2022 at 1:32 PM, mk2_craig said:

I thought the sale prices for the Sonata etc looked about right, then I remembered France doesn’t use francs for its currency any more. 

Probably right for their market, even if a bit steeper than we'd expect to see.

I've been grinding through the editing and Flickr uploading so time for another update here......

I should have made more effort to get the Punto in shot, along with the 205 and Twingo. This is France in 2022.

Tractor blocking the main road out of town. Not because the local farmers were protesting, but because it was closed for the hillclimb.

 

Entries ranged from 106s, Saxos etc to single seaters and open sportscars. The midfield stuff interested me most, things like a rapid Simca 1000, and I have a few more photos of those to come at some point. For now please enjoy this rather nice 75.

This Escort made a run at the end of each session. Quality head protection.

At the end of the day all the cars were driven into the town centre, some with a bit of 'enthusiasm'. The pair of black lines left by a BMW drift car were still there nearly a week later.....

Saw this in pre-restoration condition on my last visit, great to see it up and running.

Apparently this is a Gitane Testi. I can offer no further comment.

This looked to be in the condition you'd hope for of an old van.

Trafics still in use by the canoe/kayak hire companies, these ones looked pretty decent.

It was a diesel, somewhat unsurprisingly.

J7 hadn't gone far since I saw it in 2019, although it was at least facing the opposite way so hopefully does see occasional use.

Probably the most interesting Lancia I saw, looks like it gets worked hard.

25s getting thin on the ground, this one looked pretty decent. Don't recall seeing any Phase 2 models this year.

Roland Garros with lacquer peel. I ended up seeing A Lot in this town.

 

 

Saw these two within half an hour so of each other. Can't think when I last saw a van in the UK.

 

 

Street furniture.

One of my favourite finds of the holiday.

Not so many Pandas out and about this time.

Kenzo edition, not one I can recall seeing before.

 

This garage looks like it's only recently been made more accessible, with work being done on the house. Great to see the Ami - saw a later Break on the road another day.

Tatty Express, driver looked like he might be an off duty Gendarme so this was a hastily-taken shot.

Slightly strange to see such a quintessentially French car belonging to Dutch tourists. Apparently it was sold new in NL.

Looked like it was well-used.

That brings me up to halfway through the second week, still a fair bit to go.

[ProgRocker]

17 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

 

Slightly strange to see such a quintessentially French car belonging to Dutch tourists. Apparently it was sold new in NL.

André Citroen was a Dutch émigre (as were his parents?) iirc so I like to think of these classic Citroens as a bit Dutch in nature as well as French.

Love the burgandy Peugeot 605 as well.

[Spottedlaurel]

On 9/25/2022 at 9:34 PM, Spottedlaurel said:

At the end of the day all the cars were driven into the town centre, some with a bit of 'enthusiasm'. The pair of black lines left by a BMW drift car were still there nearly a week later.....

Is it bad form to quote myself? Whatever, here is said BMW:

And some of the others doing their thing on the hill:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few of them were doing the 3-wheel thing around the corners. I wasn't quick enough to catch that....

Back to the normal stuff:

Zoomage required here, but couldn't pass it by.

This poor thing seems to have sat for a while.

Peugeot pickup beside the road #1.

This one looked like it was down from Paris, what a great way to cruise around the country.

Another of my favourite finds. Early one with the small, pre-Alpine rear lights and bumpers that don't wraparound. It's very similar to a Majorette diecast I have, down to the colour and damaged bumper (but mercifully not the 3-spoke wheels).

 

 

Renaults were at the same garage. The 5 and 6 were both there in 2019, as were others in the yard.

I suppose this is what you do if you need a car and also the carrying capacity of a Renault Express, but can only afford to run one vehicle.

 

Marbella only seen up a sidestreet because I'd stopped for the Palio.

Peugeot pickup beside the road #2.

Hilux Winnebago Warrior beast from Belgium. This comes to mind:

That's it for our fortnight in Tarn et Garonne, now just the journey home to go.....

[Spottedlaurel]

600 miles back to Calais via an overnight stop just east of Rouen, some of it cross-country......

The village we'd stayed at were setting up for an agricultural fair. Trusty RX in the background, full of luggage and people.

 

 

 

A few things in the local town before we got very far. The family were probably thinking this was going to be a long day.....

Gah! Take my word for it, it's a late Renault Rodeo.

After a fortnight all my passengers knew what to do when I thrust the camera at them, including Miss SL's BF as was the case here. Only saw one other 11 on the road, and that was a facelift model.

Autoroutes pretty barren. A few old campers and a nice 504 saloon also seen, otherwise a very poor spots/km ratio.

Nice 280 SE making use of lower supermarket fuel prices.

Didn't see too many other SAABs, although there was a 900 saloon glimpsed not long before this one.

Not too many Nivas seen this year, and none of the car range.

Fantastic. Imagine the days when executives were whooshing around the country in these things.

If I hadn't have taken the wrong turn out of the supermarket I wouldn't have found this.

 

An oddity here, and as mySafrane knowledge is limited I didn't notice it at the time. Phase 2 front end on a Phase 1.

Poor thing looked to have been out of use for a while.

 

With five people on board regular stops were required, and we found that supermarkets were the ideal place for that. With the bonus of finding things like the above. And this......

 

OK, a sunny Saturday afternoon was always going to bring out a few classics and youngtimers, but what a thing to see on the road.

Perfect.

On French plates but RHD.

Saw a sportier 8 earlier in the day, good to find this one later on.

Tidy 200D crusing around the town we stopped at for the night.

Final part to follow....

[MiniMinorMk3]

6 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

 

If I hadn't have taken the wrong turn out of the supermarket I wouldn't have found this.

Pity whoever replaced the front wings messed up the side repeater position. I'll put my anorak away now.

[Spottedlaurel]

5 hours ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Pity whoever replaced the front wings messed up the side repeater position. I'll put my anorak away now.

Not too far out for an Innocenti? Looks similar on this one I saw a few years ago:

 

[wuvvum]

On 9/25/2022 at 9:34 PM, Spottedlaurel said:

 

Apparently this is a Gitane Testi. I can offer no further comment.

Those things are fantastic.  An absolute beast for a 50cc bike - with a decent expansion exhaust they'll do 80mph.  I found one for sale when we moved to France in 1993 and begged my dad to buy it for me, but he (probably wisely) refused.

13 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

 

Nice 280 SE making use of lower supermarket fuel prices.

Wow, can't remember the last time I saw a two-letter Paris plate in the wild!

[Spottedlaurel]

OK, last batch for this year's holiday....

This Ro80 slipped out of order. Must look amazing at night with all the yellow lights.

Back on track now for the final push home.....

Mildly biffed AX. Subsequently realised that may have been the owner in the background, but she didn't ask me any difficult questions.

Estafette advertising a brocante in Albertville. I usually see a Juvaquatre or two serving that purpose, but none this year.

 

Wonderful! I imagine @barrett will like this one. Obviously regarded as a 'proper' classic by its owner out for a tootle to the coast on a not-so-sunny Sunday morning, but still great to see it out and about. I have a vague recollection that there was one of these in a car book I had as a kid, must try and look that up. Also caught sight of a Citroen SM passing over a bridge as we were on the autoroute.

Espace with patina.

Lots of Belgian (and Dutch) holidaymakers on this stretch of the coast.

 

What a thing to see, seemd like the chap had just used it for a quick trip to the supermarket. He ended up behind us a few minutes later, it got along nicely.

Last spot on semi-French soil (the Channel Tunnel terminal) was of something very British. An interesting comparison with the Taunus, DS and Panhard, all of which would have been on sale within a few years of this 1964 Alvis. Still looks like a fine thing to drive around France, and I think these were regarded as competent cruisers at the time - my grandfather did a lot of miles for his business and he had one or two.

Back on the A12 in the Essex, this Scorpio was an appropriate sight. Just 55k miles at its last MoT and apparently had the same owner since 1998.

Nearly home, and people leaving a big show at Stonham Barns meant we got to see a few things heading the other way. This shot came out well considering it was taken over my shoulder from the back seat by Master SL.

The very final photo turned out to be our very own @Brodders in his Orion.

That's it for 2022's holiday. Next year's trip has already been booked, different place in France this time so I'm looking forward to seeing what's around. Already found an interesting classic car garage on the way down.....

[mk2_craig]

Great spots as always SL - and good job in training the whole clan to have a shite eye while out and about. Some absolutely top class tin there. 

[MiniMinorMk3]

20 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

Not too far out for an Innocenti? Looks similar on this one I saw a few years ago:

 

That one's worse, wrong head lamp rims and front flashers. Also has a Clubman saloon rear bumper on the front. 

[Spottedlaurel]

Looks like I have been remiss in adding any of my day-to-day spots since last year's holiday. I'll try and catch up with them at some point, in the meantime here's the beginning of what 2023 has to offer here in France. I'm only a few days in and we've got the rest of the week in Haute Vienne then nine days of dawdling up the eastern side of the country (including a visit to the Schlumpf Collection in Mulhouse).

I'll start with the odds and ends seen on the way down to Newhaven (a very civilized way of getting out of the UK on what would undoubtedly have been a busy weekend for the tunnel or Dover ferries).

I didn't go via Scotland.

Last UK spot.

Early morning at Dieppe:

Tidy example with Eriba caravan. Have seen quite a few Mk1 RAV4s since we got here, none yet in Miss SL's preferred light blue/green colour choice.

Comedy loud exhaust. After a long stretch on the A28 etc the toll cost 45 euros, but we did manage to get a lot of the journey dispensed with at 80-odd on the cruise control when it was quiet, giving more time for ambling across country later in the day. Hoping to avoid any autoroutes for the rest of the holiday.

Got off the autroute a bit earlier than planned as it was getting busier and there was a good D-road alternative. Definitely worthwhile.

Gah, just missed this rather nice Chrysler wagon. Sounded great. Got a glimpse of it at an autoroute filling station a little earlier in the day, paying that bill must have been an eyewatering experience.

Had I not turned off one junction earlier than planned I wouldn't have seen this place.

Ascona! Also a Renault 18 at the back, plus 4, 5 and other odds and ends. A good start on the this year's virtual Renault bingo scorecard.

 

This has been in the yard since at least 2008, at one point being companion to a Series 1 Jaguar XJ/Daimler.

This has only been there since 2020. A bit mouldy on the opposite side, but otherwise tidy. Google Maps suggests there is/was a lot more around the back, but there was no way of getting there.

Moving on, but not far....

These were sitting at a different place. Streetview shows them to have been here since at least 2008, at one time there was an old Ami and Renault 4 van with them. Still a few J9s in use on the markets etc, but those Citroen C35s don't seem to survive as well.

More in a moment....

[Spottedlaurel]

Moving on....

 

 

 

Supermarket lunch stop. Don't know what was going on with the Mondeo's front arches.

 

 

I think the J9 had been at the local market, where I saw this:

As often seems to be the case with Transits on the Continent, it had a tailgate.

Last batch for now, at a place I glimpsed back in 2019 but foolishly didn't stop then:

Haven't yet seen a vast number of 205s on the road, probably more SuperCinq 5s at this stage.

 

Nicely patinated 504 GL was the best thing I could see in this yard. Streetview shows that there was a Datsun Bluebird 910 here for a while, but that's now gone.

More decent stuff to come, including sundry CXs/BXs and a Panhard....

[mk2_craig]

Always great to see this thread updated! Looking forward to more decrepit French tin. 

[puddlethumper]

A good selection of  spots. Living up to half your name.  @Spottedlaurel