I went to a French Car Festival

"Nauraushaun" (nauraushaun12) 10/19/2016 at 20:49 • Filed to: FRENCH

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It was in this little town just out of Melbourne called Williamstown. It was most strange outside the event. It was like a regular day, but with a much higher concentration of French cars around. Common French cars, but French cars all the same.

Inside there were all sorts of things. Lots of little Peugeot hatches, lots of DS’. But sadly no SMs, no Bugattis. I think the forecast storms later in the day limited the turnout unfortunately.

Anyway, onto the pics.

Some sort of big Pug. Never seen anything like it

French luxury is a massive V6

I love these 406s I really do. But that color! Wow

These little black bugs were everywhere. Pretty sure this thing was patient zero.

These fancy pants headlights are much nicer than the filth dished out to America

I’ve seen these around, never knew they too could lift!

Spare tyres in and around engines is a common theme amongst French cars it seems

Best looking people mover you can get. There was a Cactus but it had people in it, so no pix

Traction Avant! Incredible condition too. A really great shape, very decadent

106 years old I think it said. And a Renault! Who knew they were that old?

This is the moment I lost my shit. See the little vent peeking out from behind the wheel?

CLIO V6! I’ve seen one of these on the road once before, but it’s always a treat. These things are *bonkers*

That’s how much storage room there is in the back: none at all

So WIDE! So POISED!

fuuuuuuck

Flanked by an Alpine and a Gordini

Same colors as the two outside, different cars though

*Very* mid-engined. I think this was a Matra

Leaping greyhound ornament! There were a few Delages, some were just massive. Decadent

A Peugeot with a roaring lion ornament. Not seen that before.

I came here for Alpines and was not disappointed! The little A110 was incredibly small, I had no idea. That’s Melbourne in the background

What’s that I see parked outside the event!?

Only the worst condition NSX I’ve ever seen. Despite the numberplate, definitely not an NSX R.

Amoore100 > Nauraushaun 10/19/2016 at 21:04

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DJET! GORDINI! YES! I wish my area had something like this, but then I’d be way too tempted to buy everything I see, and that would require money, lots of it. Also, the C5's lift-up mode with its Hydractive suspension makes it surprisingly capable off-road, especially the Gen II models.

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P.S. Yes, the Grand C4 Picasso is just the best looking MPV out there today. I don’t know what it is but for some reason it’s just so appealing despite being a rather ordinary seven-seater.

Probenja > Nauraushaun 10/19/2016 at 21:05

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The Clio v6 has no storage in the back because there is an engine there:

And all Citroens with hydropneumatic suspension can lift and be lowered like the C5 in your picture:

S65 > Nauraushaun 10/19/2016 at 21:10

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What was wrong with that NSX

Berang > Nauraushaun 10/19/2016 at 21:19

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We never got the Renault 12 in the U.S. for some reason. I’ve always wondered why, since we got the 16 and 5.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Nauraushaun 10/19/2016 at 21:22

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THE ALPINE A110s - GIVE THEM ALL TO ME!

Seriously though, some awesome cars there! I would LOVE to have a classic 2CV, especially the truck models! And that GS....and that burgundy and red Traction, especially...gorgeous!

The DSes are amazing as well, that goes without saying! :P

I saw a gorgeous NA-spec SM last year on my birthday here in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia stopped at a local pub - HHHNNGGG...

Nauraushaun > Berang 10/19/2016 at 21:30

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I never knew or cared about it until now!

Nauraushaun > S65 10/19/2016 at 21:31

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You can’t see it, but some of the paint and a lot of the plastics have peeling layers. There was water in the rear lights, the wheels are gross, the tint was too dark and too aged. I dunno, many little things that suggest it hasn’t been maintained like I believe an NSX should be.

That said, it probably gets driven well too.

Nauraushaun > Probenja 10/19/2016 at 21:32

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I know there’s an engine there :) It’s still absurd how impractical they made it. It’s not even especially fast. But I love it so.

I just didn’t think those features made it to the newer cars! I’m sure the current cars can’t do that, I thought the C5 was in that basket as well.

Believe me there were all manner of raised and slammed cars that day - most of them older though.

Nauraushaun > Amoore100 10/19/2016 at 21:33

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It has proper sass, that’s why! The second gen Oddysee had the same sort of thing. Just coolness

That video is intense.

Nauraushaun > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 10/19/2016 at 21:34

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I think I saw you post about that. I think I commented on it. They’re so awesome, seeing them on the street is the greatest. But I thought this show would have a couple!

Amoore100 > Nauraushaun 10/19/2016 at 21:37

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Not as much sass as the fourth gen International Ody! Japanese R-Class for sure!

dogisbadob > Nauraushaun 10/19/2016 at 21:41

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Hi

gmctavish needs more space > Nauraushaun 10/19/2016 at 21:43

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All of this is excellent

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Nauraushaun 10/19/2016 at 21:46

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French cars are SOOOOO rare here as Cit and Renault pulled out in the 80's, so there are almost NONE around. The SM I saw was the first I’ve ever seen in person and only the second or third Citroen I’ve ever seen in person PERIOD in my 30 years on this planet!

Flavien Vidal > Nauraushaun 10/19/2016 at 22:32

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Obligatory post of the best A110 in the world! (My father’s 1600sc of course :) )

fintail > Nauraushaun 10/19/2016 at 22:42

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Always liked the 604, a French W116. Survival rates are infinitesimal, probably no more than a few on the road in Oz.

Nauraushaun > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 10/19/2016 at 22:52

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I know :) There are plenty of cars that are considered very rare on Oppo, that I see on a daily basis.

But SMs are rare EVERYWHERE! More so in the US I guess.

Second or third Citroen! You’re very lucky my friend. I’ve still only seen the one SM, but your odds are much worse than mine.

Nauraushaun > dogisbadob 10/19/2016 at 22:53

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I

Just

What

Nauraushaun > Amoore100 10/19/2016 at 22:54

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Actually I was talking about the 3rd gen.

I find the fourth suffered from a bit of the Honda-over-design-corporate-face thing.

Nauraushaun > Flavien Vidal 10/19/2016 at 22:55

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:O Have you driven? It’s so SMALL it has to be a lot of fun.

Nauraushaun > fintail 10/19/2016 at 22:55

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I can only imagine.

Nauraushaun > gmctavish needs more space 10/19/2016 at 22:57

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Thanks :D Hard to believe all this stuff is living nearby in barns and garages. Then there’s this

It’s in Blackburn, spitting distance from me. It’s dirt cheap, I could buy it tomorrow! I could be that guy , minus the plethora of other French cars in his driveway. He was almost certainly at this event.

All those GTAs had writing on that rear side window. That one says V6, some said TURBO, some said LE MANS. So cool

Amoore100 > Nauraushaun 10/19/2016 at 23:05

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True, too much chrome. Urgh.

Especially as opposed to this spaceship of an MPV:

When I went to Taiwan for the first time in 2009, I was struck by how awesome the RB1/2 Odys were and more than a bit jealous that we didn’t get them in ‘Murica.

Flavien Vidal > Nauraushaun 10/19/2016 at 23:10

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Yes I have, it’s a lot of fun... But my father is a bit of a pain in the ass when it comes to letting me drive it. No matter the fact that people lend me expensive cars to try out on a weekly basis, my father is not like that. Quite annoying to be honest lol

Nauraushaun > Amoore100 10/19/2016 at 23:34

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Oh you didn’t!? You poor Americans get nothing good.

Nauraushaun > Flavien Vidal 10/19/2016 at 23:35

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My dad is the opposite. I have driven his car but it’s a diesel Ford SUV.

I’d rather a dad who has an Alpine, even if I don’t get to drive it.

Amoore100 > Nauraushaun 10/19/2016 at 23:45

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Granted, the third gen Ody we did get was quite good as far as minivans go. We have one, and the steering is nicely weighted and the turn-in is about as sharp as on my V50, nothing like the weirdly light steering on my dad’s V70. There is acres of body roll, though, as expected, but the big VTEC V6 makes *Clarkson voice* good noise when you’re really revving it up to 5K rpm where the power is.

Doesn’t look quite as cool as yours though...

gmctavish needs more space > Nauraushaun 10/19/2016 at 23:47

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Ooh it’s so yellow, awesome. I really love all the Alpines, I would love an A110 one day. There aren’t enough French cars where I live, it’s really too bad. At least there’s a decent amount of old German stuff around

Nauraushaun > gmctavish needs more space 10/19/2016 at 23:52

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There’s not so much where I live either, I’ve never seen an Alpine on the roads. That’s why the world needs car shows

Flavien Vidal > Nauraushaun 10/20/2016 at 00:32

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Oh there’s no problem for me to drive his daily driver... Just talking about the Alpine here. :)

dogisbadob > Nauraushaun 10/20/2016 at 17:31

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sorry, I had to! (The Yaris is made in Nice)

Nauraushaun > dogisbadob 10/20/2016 at 17:48

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OHHHHHH I had no idea

pip bip - choose Corrour > Nauraushaun 10/27/2016 at 04:36

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bugger , i missed the show.

Nauraushaun > pip bip - choose Corrour 10/27/2016 at 06:26

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No SMs, no Bugattis. Don’t beat yourself up ;)