Classic Cars

[jeanlouis]

"L'Illustration" again 1934-1939

 

[jeanlouis]

Foreign cars in 1939 from the French magazine L'Illustration

 

[jeanlouis]

Engines and dashboards gallery
(L'Illustration - Last motorshow before the war - October 1938)

 

[dargelos]

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This is ours now. 1958 Metropolitan. My sweetheart has always wanted one. All I have to do is keep it running. It is simple to repair, I'm so lucky he was not a DS fan.

 

[jeanlouis]

Really sparkling ! :thumbs up:
I got some informations about the Nash Metropolitan, American car made in England at Austin manufactory near from Birmingham, powered by one Austin A 40 engine. No problem for the spare parts, I presume. Nash are more current in USA or in UK than in Europe.
Sorry, these doents are in French.

We recognize the particular look of the Nash, small American constructor.

 

[dargelos]

That's right, spare parts are not a problem. Most of them are also used in a lot of other cars of the era. There are owners clubs who know how to find these things.
What is amazing is the way other people's attitude changes when you drive something like this. Instead of 'I was here first, get out of my fucking way' they become friendly and patient. Much faster acting than Prozac.

 

[jeanlouis]

Unhappily some oldies have not the sweet appearence of the Metropolitan...

Cadillac Series 61 Coupé VS Citroën Traction 15/6
(photos by Dingo)

 

[jeanlouis]

X cars generation, a range of smaller models presented by General Motors
Front wheels drive, transversal V6 engines (even 4 aligned cylinders for the downscale), 5th door at the rear, the first American constructor was clearly inspired by some European firms. After the first oil crisis, the end of the enormous V8 saloons seem close. At this time, everybody was frightened of a petroleum shortage.

During a short time, downscale models from GM were the competitors of upperclass French cars like this Renault 30 TX. Quickly, after the Iranian crisis, American drivers came back to bigger models but the GM technology, front wheels drive and transversal engines, will remain.

 

[dargelos]

"At this time, everybody was frightened of a petroleum shortage."
How history repeats itself, at least 'round my way. Dig out your old eight track tapes, they might come back into fashion again too.

 

[jeanlouis]

"At this time, everybody was frightened of a petroleum shortage."
How history repeats itself, at least 'round my way. Dig out your old eight track tapes, they might come back into fashion again too.

Indeed, history repeats itself. X cars adventure of General Motors remind me of the Ford Vedette story, too small for Americans and too big for Europeans (especially French people). After war, Ford USA thinked that drivers would need some smaller cars and it was exactly the opposite that happened! Then the model was sold to Ford France named Ford SAF. It was a marketing failure because of the V8 motor gas consumption.

 

[jeanlouis]

Panhard in movies


"Ca n'empêche pas les sentiments" - 1998
I remember when I saw this poster. It must be certainly a Panhard inside and I have to see that, I thinked. I was not disappointed, a 17 break with an enormous bottle of wine on the roof !


The break found some years later in a ... break, too bad !

 

[jeanlouis]

Panhard Dyna Junior


"Poisson d'Avril" - 1954

 

[jeanlouis]

Alpine in movies


1967


Arrested by 2 policemen in Alpine Berlinette, hold-up money is in the trunk of the Fiat 1800. X_X

 

[jeanlouis]

Alpine A110



Alpine V6 GT Turbo limited serie Mille Miles (1989)

 

[jeanlouis]

Jaguar Type E that get longer from the movie "Le Petit Baigneur" (1968)


Louis de Funes seems to control the crazy tractor. Unfortunately, two minuts later, the ride is ending in a pond. Then he jumps to the wheel of his Jaguar Type E for pulling the vehicle out of the water...

The transformation was made by the bodyworker Pichon-Parat

 

[jeanlouis]

"At this time, everybody was frightened of a petroleum shortage."
How history repeats itself, at least 'round my way. Dig out your old eight track tapes, they might come back into fashion again too.

Toward a motorshow of precious gas, already in 1974!

 

[jeanlouis]

Among other devices, the "econoscope" assembled by Talbot for saving some liters of the precious gas.



Lights on the left of the hand : all is OK. :thumbs up:
Lights on the right of the hand : excessive consumption. :no:
Never connected on the Horizon of my father because he could not tolerate the lights on/off full time at the dashboard !

 

[jeanlouis]

Economies would be possible if people really wanted to do it.

With Vera, Peugeot reduced of 35% the consumption without changing appearence and performance of the 305. He worked around aerodynamics, mechanical and various lightenings. This prototype hides the mechanical of the future 205.

 

[jeanlouis]

Some cars modified by Pichon-Parat (Sens - France)


Jaguar Type E for the movie "Le petit baigneur" seen above

Citroën ID 19 coach GT 1965

Some years before the Jaguar, Pichon-Parat had already made a car for the director Robert Dhery. It was a model derived from the Oldsmobile 98 (or 88) redesigned by Raymond Loewy. The movie, called "La Belle Americaine", was as funny as "Le petit Baigneur". (1961) :thumbs up:

 

[jeanlouis]

"La Belle Americaine"


Colette Brosset, the wife of Robert Dhery