French Classic Cars
Cheap European Car: 1977 Citroën Dyane
At first glance, the Citroën Dyane looks about like the 2CV upon which it was based. The styling of the latter car, though a bit odd, is iconic, and the Dyane helped carry the torch from 1967 to 1983…. more»
Barn Find 5-Speed: 1972 Citroen SM
The Citroen SM is a wild and wonderful combination of design and features that few cars have matched since. With numerous engineering accomplishments and a lovely Maserati-derived 2.7L engine under the hood, it offers a list of achievements that… more»
French Gem: 1936 Peugeot 302
We rarely correlate Peugeot with any but the most pedestrian of cars, meant to ferry middle-class drivers to work and the grocery. But in the 1930s, Peugeot took a walk on the wild side, very successfully. Instrumental in this… more»
Mexican Alpine: 1965 Dinalpin A110
These days, it’s rare to find anything approaching a “deal” in the vintage car space. Almost any older car or truck worth owning has been on a run value-wise, with some vehicles rocketing higher and others simply on a… more»
In A Barn Since 1997: 1983 Renault Le Car
I wonder how many Renaults are hiding away in barns? In France, probably quite a few but in the U.S., I would guess not that many compared to American vehicles. This seemingly well-preserved barn find is a 1983 Renault… more»
Rare Micro Car: 1952 Mochet CM 125 Grand Luxe
When I hear “grand luxe”, I translate it roughly as “large, luxury, top shelf”. But Frenchman Georges Mochet – who inherited his father Charles’ cyclecar business – thought differently about these things. He had evolved the business away from… more»
Florida Barn Find: 1966 Citroen 2CV
Looking like a nice project car, this Florida barn find 1966 Citroen 2CV should be a fairly straightforward restoration project. The body panels should come off somewhat easily to be straightened and painted and there doesn’t appear to be… more»
Ultimate Car Hauler: 1988 Citroen Tissier
In my dreams, after getting the 10-car garage, as well as filling it with all kinds of amazing classics, I want to turn my attention to getting those out of the road – to shows. But I don’t want… more»
Health Forces Sale: 1985 Renault Alliance Convertible
One of the sadder aspects of many Barn Finds write-ups is that sickness and/or death is the reason that many of these vintage, classic, and collectible vehicles are on the market. We all have projects that we want to… more»
Three Owners: 1981 Citroën 2CV6
Is it a motorized snail? A tin can on wheels? Neither – it is a car rooted in a pre-war project called the Toute Petite Voiture (“very small car”). The TPV was intended to pry farmers away from their… more»
Forest Finds: Barn Find Collection in Louisiana
Project car owners must believe they will live forever, given how many listings we see like these each year for an assortment of vehicles that otherwise appear abandoned. The listing today comes from an area that can only be… more»
French Project: 1961 Facel Vega Facellia
Who first moved a car’s engine from under a hatch beneath its seat into its front end? That would be Panhard Levassor – also responsible for creating the saloon car. Who patented the supercharger? Louis Renault, of course. And… more»
French Rarity: 1987 Citroen CX 25 Prestige
French cars are a mysterious spot on the automotive landscape these days, a reminder that they were once an import like any other brand sold stateside. However, for the predominant brands of Citroen and Peugeot, a series of challenges… more»
Rare French Classic: 1988 Renault 4 “Frog”
Some cars are so quirky they can’t help but be cool. Such is the case with this 1988 Renault 4 “Frog” Convertible. The seller claims that only around 500 of these classics were produced and that they were a… more»
Rare Restoration Project: 1923 Bugatti
Bugatti has a history of producing some of the most desirable classics to grace the world’s roads. It spent decades flirting with bankruptcy, and even under the umbrella of the Volkswagen Group as its halo marque, it sells every… more»
Restore, or Not? 1956 Citroën Traction Avant 11B
Many car makers lay claim to some fame or another: first this, first that. My favorite “car of firsts” is the Lancia Lambda. Yes, I probably like Lancias too well, but the Lambda did deserve accolades for the first… more»
