The Uniting Power of Classic Cars

One of the many beautiful facets of this wonderful world of classic cars that we’re proud to be a part of is the overwhelming sense of unity and camaraderie that is consistently displayed therein. This common interest is borne from a mutual love of the subject matter but also of shared experiences. Owning and maintaining a classic immediately places one into a certain group. A group inhabited by people who have broken down at some point or another, people who have had difficulty finding that crucial, but elusive part. Those who have embarked upon that epic road trip that has been a dream for years and myriad other incidents, adventures and ordeals that we can all relate to on some level because they will have happened to us at some point. And if they haven’t yet then hold tight, because they almost certainly will in the not to distant future.

No matter where in the world you find yourself there will invariably be like-minded enthusiasts who share this passion for classic cars and vintage vehicles, including vans, tractors and everything in between. And the great thing is you generally won’t even need to try that hard to connect with these fans of older metal. You will gravitate towards each other through word of mouth or perhaps from a chance encounter with a friend of a friend’s cousin’s sister. We’re not suggesting the involvement of a higher power here, just a touch of serendipity perhaps and one that unites us together over this common affection for classics.

A case in point is the Balade des Alpes Mancelles that we found ourselves at recently. We’re very much an international enterprise here at Car & Classic. We have classified ads from all over the world and our auctions platform positively embraces our European cousins. Not only that but a large percentage of the people that actually work here are scattered all over the globe, from Dubai to Essex and most places in between. I myself float regularly between the UK and France and during one such stint in La Patrie I happened upon a quaint little classic car show in the depths of the Normandie-Maine regional park.

There was some surprisingly rare metal on display including a Renault Ondine – the upmarket version of the Dauphine that was only in production for a couple of years– and a 1960 Vespa 400 microcar.

So oblivious was I to the event that I was surprised to learn that it was in fact the seventh outing for the Balade des Alpes Mancelles and one that attracts fans from far and wide to revel in the selection of classic cars and vehicles on display. To prove the point I made above I only became aware of the show by way of a chance conversation I overheard between two random strangers the day before. Serendipitous indeed.

Our love for classics is all encompassing and it was great to see the likes of this Renault 21 Turbo and a convertible Talbot Samba nestled in amongst the more uncommon Traction Avants and Peugeot 504 cabriolets.

The location for this gathering of classics was a picturesque little village by the name of St Léonard des Bois in the Loire Valley about twenty minutes from my house. It was a beautifully sunny day and having arrived in the early afternoon the cars were already parked up and on display upon an idyllic patch of grass next to the river that runs through the valley in which the town is situated.

Of all the classic Gallic metal on display this Citroën DS Safari, complete with caravan, luggage and snoozing passengers was a highlight, as well as being somewhat emblematic of rural French life.

What astonished me the most was the sheer breadth of classic cars exhibited, spanning decades. Obviously there was a strong French contingent with numerous Renaults, Peugeots and Citroëns and Simcas but there was also a good deal of British marques on display as well as various American, German and Italian metal. There was something for everyone with rare beasts mixed in amongst the more familiar models too.

With its commanding presence and a distinct level of incongruity parked amongst various Triumphs and Simcas this Chevrolet Chevelle attracted quite the crowd and everybody heard it when its whopping great V8 turned over.

The atmosphere was distinctly convivial and a particular highlight of the day occurred later on when I had retired to the centre ville for a Picon bier only to be treated to a parade through the town consisting of all of the cars that had previously been on display. To witness this convoy of classics swagger through the main but narrow thoroughfare – complete with tooting horns, revving engines and waving drivers an arm’s length from where I sat with my my libation – was a treat for the senses indeed.

This beautifully restored Jaguar XK 140 took pride of place amongst a whole host of Triumphs, MGs and Austin Healeys proving that there’s still a lot of love between the French and English, at least in classic car circles.

It was an intimate event with a great selection of classics and I’m glad that I was there at that precise moment to eavesdrop and discover this little gem of a show. It was the perfect way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon and I certainly hope there will be an eighth next year. So, keep those eyes open and those ears to the ground and you’ll no doubt hear of similar such events wherever you are. Support your local classic scene, perhaps make some new friends and maybe a few important contacts so that when the time comes, that difficult to find part might not be so hard to track down.