boobydoo Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 Well, some of you may have realised that this year is the 30th Anniversary of the Talbot Tagora, 1981-2011! So what better way to celebrate, than a little jaunt across the Channel in such a vehicle...back to the Motherland as it were!! Unfortunately my scottish cohort had to cry off last minute due to work commitments, but as everything was booked I decided to venture solo!The Tagora had had brand new discs and pads a couple of weeks ago and seemed to be running well...so hopefully I would get there and back in one piece.....but I took out RAC Europe Cover just in case! Only £29 for three days, so not too bad. It was an early start on Friday to catch the 10:25 ferry from Dover-Calais ...but even at 6:30 am, the M25 was chocca, particularly at the Dartford Crossing! After a brief stop at Maidstone Services (where the bogs were a bloody disgrace!), I arrived safely at Dover...Stage One of the journey completed! A hotel had been booked at Orleans...about a 5 hour journey ... so plenty of time to enjoy the baking hot sunshine and wonderfully smooth French roads!Here I am on a bleak stretch just outside of Chartres....though my crap photo doesn't show the bleakness at all!! I followed this beauty for a fair few kilometers !! I did notice how the French don't seem to look after their old cars at all! Look at this sorry bunch!! This AX looks particularly unloved n'est-ce-pas? Cack-ridden beige 21! In good old Blighty, a 2 door Sierra would be a rare sight indeed and I think better cared for than this! Here I am, Friday night, parked at the hotel...just time to relax with a couple of beers... wondering what excitement would lay in store the next day....... ? SATURDAY: A French Chateau! And very nice it was too......but wait a minute! What was this I could see from one of the Chateau balconies.....way across the lake?? Did my eyes deceive me or was that a.....? Quickly, I focused my camera zoom!! ZOIKS!!! Yes indeed! 'Twas the 30th running of the French Simca Club National Meeting! This year in Ferte-St-Aubin, 15 km south of Orleans! The whole reason for my trip!! Follow me!! This way!! The Simca 1000 is 50 this year! The French love it...just as we do the Mini! ARF!! Here's a sight you wouldn't see every day if you lived in, say, Barnsley!! A Simca 1100 with two fun-lovin' doggies!! A lot of the Frenchies had dressed up for the day...here are two 'jeune filles' one dressed like Brigitte Bardot and the other in....err...what looks like a PVC dress ....with a lovely Simca Oceane! Ooh! Here they are again, this time in 1980s gear!! Looks like life's a blast in a Talbot Samba!The one in the leather was their mother....believe me, the rear view was better!!!! Even the old folk made an effort.....here's a classy Simca Chambord! Anyway...lets have some tat!!Simca Horizon 'S'...we didn't get an 'S' over here! Rather nice, I think. Is this GORGEOUS or what!!! Have another!! If you go down to the woods today......you might see a beige Chrysler 160GT!!!I chatted in pigeon French to the owner for a while....he had owned it for 6 years and had restored the bodywork himself. The red interior was beautiful and all original! But I forgot to take a photo of the inside. Now, what's next? Ah yes, a 'tres jolie' Simca 1200S! Bless! Someone turned up in one of Scotlands finest!! The first Simcas were built under licence from FIAT in 1934...here's an early Simca 5. By now the baking heat was starting to make me flag a little...but then I saw this and perked up again!! Now, this car was possibly my favourite! 140,000kms yet looked brand new! The car was restored 5 years ago, but the interior was original and unmarked. It was simply superb!! The owner, M.Genette Laurent, lived on the South Coast of France and I have promised to post him a UK Solara brochure! He deserves it, don't you think!! Alpine time!! Here's one in boobydoo Simca green!!Oh! Can you spy a certain white Tagora in the background? Here's another! This one has been restored by two English guys, Guy and Stuart from Kent, who were also there! It was a £150 wreck.....haven't they done a great job!! Happy 30th Birthday!!The owner of the blue one liked my car so much, he gave me an original TALBOT keyring, which was very kind!!In the end only 6 Tagoras turned up. Not many for a birthday do!! Peek-a-boo! Sorry, but nasty wheels, Monsieur!! Anyway, as I'm getting a bit bored downloading all these pics, I shall leave you with a 'pot-pourri' of other french fancies that made the trip very enjoyable! I got home safely on Sunday despite torrential rain in both France and UK... ....and I'm pleased to report that the Tagora behaved impeccably over the 700 mile round trip!!! It's now all clean again and tucked up in the garage ready for another adventure another day!! A Bientot, mes amis!! LE FIN. mouseflakes, trigger, Uncle Jimmy and 7 others 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trigger Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 What a fantastic read Tony!, I really enjoyed that, It's looks like you had a great weekend away and those photos are brilliant! That last Mantra Ranchio looks lovely in that dark blue, really suits it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 Cor, brilliant stuff! I might post a link up to this on my website due to the high levels of French pornography. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theorganist Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 Fantastic pictures, love that Horizon S, wonder what engine/equipment they had? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Bo11ox Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 Jeezus, i'd have had to be carried out of there on a stretcher mouseflakes and Uncle Jimmy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TagoraSX Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 Excellent! a great story Have you come across the blue SX for sale ebay before? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spottedlaurel Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 Excellent write-up and photos, well worth the effort! Really looking forward to getting back to France, I’ll be there again at the end of next month – hooray!! Perhaps I should investigate and see if there ‘just happens’ to be a show where we’re staying?... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexg Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 That looks great, thanks for posting! That Horizon 'S' hits the spot for me. Oh, and I'm sorry about our toilets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boobydoo Posted June 6, 2011 Author Share Posted June 6, 2011 Excellent! a great story Have you come across the blue SX for sale ebay before? Hmmm...I have a feeling that may be the one a friend of mine sold a couple of years ago. It was red and silver when he had it. It didn't run well if I recall...but that may well have been sorted now. He sold it quite cheaply so there is quite a mark-up in that price!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashmicro Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 Great photos and write-up. Some classy stuff there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlo Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 What great pictures! A French classic car show, what could be better? You didn't feel inclined to take your SX over there then BD? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boobydoo Posted June 6, 2011 Author Share Posted June 6, 2011 What great pictures! A French classic car show, what could be better? You didn't feel inclined to take your SX over there then BD? Yes, Carlo, it would have been nice, but it's so expensive keeping every car MOT'd and Taxed that I have to rotate their use! So,this year unfortunately ,the red Tagora and green 1100 are laid up... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luxobarges_Are_Us Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 this is the epitome of class! An extraordinary amount of pure quality! Monsieur Booby, you are an inspiration to the AS community! Jeezus, i'd have had to be carried out of there on a stretcher I know what you mean- I almost fainted just by looking at the pictures!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete-M Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 Good man. Top pics. Hmm, I wonder if there'll be a chance to take the 604 on a French trip this year... I may have to look into it. Dammit, every time I open Autoshite it costs me money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Bo11ox Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 GR-63-89 Pics!!! Did you see what I did there? Junkman and Uncle Jimmy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shep Shepherd Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 Utterly brilliant! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michiel Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 Excellent work, monsieur Boo-boo-bee-doo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedSparrow Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 Super thread bewbs.Really cheered me up today, thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Case Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 Superb report and photos, many thanks for posting I think that an early Simca Aronde has just leapt up several places in my 'one day' list Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavcraft Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 Fantastic, the green Alpine was the highlight for me but all were ace. Uncle Jimmy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Lobster Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 MOST EXCELLENT! I can't imagine many better days to spend a weekend unless I am allowed Emma Bunton and a tub of Lurpak.... Anyway, I'm off to the R4 50th Anniversary party in France next month which looks a pretty similar thing and I can't wait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatdaft Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 looks like a nice weekend Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garethj Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 Fantastic, I'd love to take any of those honeys home and softly whisper tales of love to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglevan Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 Rite enjoyed those pics - cheers. Wonder if i'd have been welcome in my Talbot camper might be trip for another year ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mash Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 Fab road trip and the show looked a belter, thanks for sharing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChinaTom Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 Fantastic. The Playboy Mansion of cars right there. You are so lucky to have one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Reverend Bluejeans Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 Fantastic pictures, love that Horizon S, wonder what engine/equipment they had? From the original brochure, translated into English. '1118cc / Fuck all'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProgRocker Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 Fantastic pictures, love that Horizon S, wonder what engine/equipment they had? From the original brochure, translated into English. '1118cc / Fuck all'. The 'S' didn't stand for 'Sport' then?! Fab pics, Boobydoo. Never seen a white Tagora before. How many Tagoras are now left on British roads - does anyone know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairnet Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 oh.my.god. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angrydicky Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 That has to be the best thing I've seen all year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now