I'm a fan of "interesting" cars, be they old or modern classics or just plain "different" …………. :roll:

Here in south west France, there are several "events" for cars throughout the summer but one we like is a once a month Sunday morning run out to one of the numerous old "bastide" (fortified) towns in Aquitaine.  A friend and neighbour "collects" cars (as you do ……….) and we often drive the hour to this particular bastide (Lauzerte) in the Tarn et Garonne department where we do our petrolhead things over a bacon sandwich before returning home around lunchtime.  My friend and neighbour has a brace of Morgans and a brace of Porsches.  We invariably take the Morgans - a Roadster and a modern 3 wheeler - because the Porsches are unlikely to negotiate the tight corners into the old town square ………..



A selection of "intersting" cars in Lauzerte.




Yours truly and SWMBO and the Morgan Roadster



Yet more "interesting" cars in Lauzerte.

Moi aussi Peter and although I've bought several old cars over the years, I've sometimes had difficulty in selling them, so I still have my first sports car from when I was a young man in my 20s, a '65 TR4.

As you know, old car events are thankfully popular in France and one of the reasons for living where we do is this little event just down the road:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=le+puy+notre+dame+retro+grand+prix+2017

It's a remarkable and happy event, great fun and free for spectators, so next month our new old car will be having fun in the sun with the other pre-war motors.

Have you tried the retro event at Angouleme? http://www.circuit-des-remparts.com/

Best,

Bill

Can't recall if I've posted his link before on this forum, just a few UK Classic car shows, Mine was the pale lime green Ford Classic that appears on quite a few of the pics

https://get.google.com/albumarchive/107343264059948197611/album/AF1QipPRpUVkMe1pw0KYY49jNqNUQbHeLe93DZG0-R5H

I've got jigsaws of quite a few, mostly saved in .pzp format ; you need the Jigsaw2 software to do those.

I'm contemplating getting another Ford Classic or ('62-'64 Capri not the later phallic symbol) if I can find one in this area at a price  I can manage, if not a Classic then a Mk 2 Consul or if all else fails a Mk 1 Cortina.

I have had this one since 1985:


It's an Australian Ford Falcon hardtop (officially, a "2 door sedan") from 1973. Unfortunately it's not in the best condition, but is still on full registration and can be driven comfortably around town.

Nice to see a proper MGB with wire wheels or is it a C?.Looks like it might have a bulge in the bonnet,perhaps a trick of the light.I have happy memories of my MGB GT which i had when i met my wife 42 years ago.

MGA/B/C are not proper MGs, BMC/British Leyland or whatever they called themselves at the time just did a badge job

This is a proper MG (image linked from Google)

Drool.

Loving this and so many car memories - so my Dad told me!

Lovely post Peter……..brings back many happy memoriess……..good to to see you and Liz looking so well

Best wishes

John

[user=434]John Dew[/user] wrote:

Lovely post Peter……..brings back many happy memories……..good to to see you and Liz looking so well

Best wishes

John

Absolutely.  I thought that you were photographed with your daughter!   :cool:

Found these photos of 'The Black Beastie", my SAAB 9000 CSE (last of the "real" SAABs before GM ruined the company). 1997 car, they stopped making Aero's the year before and were using all the Aero bits to make the CSE's. SAAB de-tuned the 225 hp Aero engine (actually around 240 hp) to 200 hp and 190 ft/lbs torque in the automatic - too much torque for the ZF gearbox they used. After some work (engine, exhaust, intercooler, suspension, brakes, body) this one had around 290 hp at the wheels, and a tad more than 300 ft/lbs of torque on the dynomometer, with a remapped ECU. Gearbox was fine with the extra power restricted to 2nd (75%), 3rd and 4th ratios (100%). Top speed around 235 km./hour (racetrack tested, pay the fee, sign the waiver, put the helmet on, enjoy!). Academic interest only, the real impact was between 50 and 130 km/hour. Engine compartment looked stock, anything but. Looking for another one to play around with (although the 9-7 Aero with a 6 L V8 looks interesting). Real sleeper car, much better than a 900.






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I saw a lot of Citroen on the M6 yesterday heating north. Some on their own wheels, some on trailers. All old saloon cars with flowing wings and running board style bodies they all looked in immaculate condition.

Here's a very old, grainy shot of a somewhat younger looking "Yours Truly" with my 1949 Triumph Roadster.  Those who watched "Bergerac" on TV will recognise the model.

I bought it in a rather sorry state for £70 from a mate at college and spent 2 years rebuilding it.

I dearly wish I still had her today - now worth around 20 to 25 Grand in good nick…………………

I do believe that a Facel Vega  was a French car and I also believe that they are now worth a small fortune and as rare as hens teeth.

Well, back in the late 60's when I had my own garage in Collier Row, Romford,  a chap walked into the office one morning wanting to know how much I would charge him to tow a car away from his drive as he wanted the room and, though it didn't actually drive, all the bits were there in the boot and,  if put back in the right order, there was no reason why it shouldn't. 


The car in question was a Facel Vega - a massive brute of a machine if ever there was - and most of the body panels were piled up inside the body in various states of restoration but, sadly, there was no hand book or manual to help explain what went where.


So, we towed it back to the garage from his house in Romford with a Humber Supersnipe, stuck it round the back and there it stood in all weathers for quite a number of years before some character called Ginger Charlie gave me thirty bob for it and towed it away to his scrap yard in Crow Lane, Dagenham and, within a matter of minutes, reduced it  to a mangled cube of scrap metal in a huge crusher. 


If only…


Allan

[user=1938]The Q[/user] wrote:

I saw a lot of Citroen on the M6 yesterday heating north. Some on their own wheels, some on trailers. All old saloon cars with flowing wings and running board style bodies they all looked in immaculate condition.

Hi Q.


I once had a Citroen D 21 Pallas that was ex French Embassy all in beautiful black with leather and 2 inch thick carpets. It floated on air due to the unique hydraulic suspension system but, when that suspension went wrong it was going to cost more than what the car was worth so, I gave it to a plumber in exchange for eight second hand radiators.


Also, the headlights turned with the steering !


Allan

[user=1938]The Q[/user] wrote:

I saw a lot of Citroen on the M6 yesterday heating north. Some on their own wheels, some on trailers. All old saloon cars with flowing wings and running board style bodies they all looked in immaculate condition.

Hi Q,

Those were mainly black old Citroens were Traction Avants (French for front wheel drive) on their way to their annual rally in the region of Loch Lomand and the Trossachs and yes, I do believe one can still get cream from the chemist for the latter.

Our own 1950 Traction is in the workshop outside and will be on his way to the UK very soon to his new guardian, following 20 years of happy motoring with the bride and me.

Peter, a lovely Triumph Roadster you had there, you should get another!

Allan, The DS21 Pallas was the dog's dangly bits of modern Citroens at the time and in black, with leather, PI and power everything, they were hard to beat. Lucky chap. Did it ha e bullet proof windows?

Cheers m'dears,

Bill

[user=1814]Longchap[/user] wrote:

[user=1938]The Q[/user] wrote:

Allan, The DS21 Pallas was the dog's dangly bits of modern Citroens at the time and in black, with leather, PI and power everything, they were hard to beat. Lucky chap. Did it ha e bullet proof windows?

I'm not sure, Q as I never got to test it  but came pretty close with the wife's mother-in-law on several occasions !


Allan

I thought the bullet proof one was manufactured specially for General de Gaulle ………………….. :roll: :roll:

If you had that one Allan, it would be worth a pretty penny ………. :thumbs

[user=6]Petermac[/user] wrote:

I thought the bullet proof one was manufactured specially for General de Gaulle ………………….. :roll: :roll:

If you had that one Allan, it would be worth a pretty penny ………. :thumbs

Had it belonged to General de Gaulle, Peter, he wouldn't have fitted a scaffold pole for an exhaust as I did when it blew !


The problem with Citroens back then was the outrageous price for spares  which probably had a lot to do with the scrap yards being full of Citreon DS 21's !



Another disaster was the CX that followed it and not to mention the all singing all dancing XM that followed that yet in spite of the highly advanced technology that went into it hardly anybody bought one and you could pick up a year old one for peanuts - then wish you hadn't !



The Citroen BX however was another story altogether and a real success in plastic panels powered by a really super diesel engine that's never been beaten yet for economy and performance . It sold in its thousands and I helped by writing two of them off ! - I also had a GSA that didn't like corners but we won't go there….



Allan

It sounds as if you might be a confirmed Citroen-o-phile Allan …………… :roll: :roll: :roll:

[user=269]MaxSouthOz[/user] wrote:

[user=434]John Dew[/user] wrote:

Lovely post Peter……..brings back many happy memories……..good to to see you and Liz looking so well

Best wishes

John

Absolutely.  I thought that you were photographed with your daughter!   :cool:

Sorry Max and John - somehow I missed your posts…………….. :oops: :oops: :oops:

Pleased the view brought back happy memories of your time over here John and Max, I tried flattery but it got me nowhere !!!!   I wonder why you didn't say "Now I can see why Liz fell for you - so young and suave looking"………………………………………………….  :hmm :cool wink