Every region of the world has its own car culture, and logically its own variety of classic car show. That holds true for France—so we recently surveyed vintage car gatherings in the south of France to get a better idea of the prevailing trends across the pond.
High-end models such as the Alpine A110, the Renault 5 Turbo, and anything built by Facel Vega are obviously prized by collectors. Setting those aside, the most collectible French cars are unquestionably Citroëns. And while the Traction Avant, the iconic DS, and the less expensive ID are crowd favorites, the most common car you see at shows is the Spartan 2CV.
The rear-engined Alpine A110 is no longer considered a poor man’s Porsche; in fact, some versions of it are worth more than many classic 911s.
The 2CV is just as popular as a classic as it was over the course of it 42-year long production run, and it’s shot up in value over the past five or so years. It comes in a wide variety of flavors ranging from all-original to perfectly restored, and from fully stock to wildly modified.
Built between 1948 and 1990, the Citroën 2CV is France’s de facto classic car. It has consequently been going up in value over the past five years.
2CV-based cars are a little hit or miss. The Ami 6 sedan—with its funky, Z-shaped roof line—and the buggy-like Méhari are exceptionally expensive and usually in like-new condition. But other derivatives like the Ami 6 wagon, both the sedan and the wagon versions of the later Ami 8, and the boxy Dyane are not as coveted.
Clean Renault 17s are few and far between because many of them were customized, driven into the ground, or both during the 1980s.
The Renault 4 - opens in new window or tab. remains markedly more affordable than the 2CV, so it’s popular among younger collectors. That said—with early models featuring the small grille are few and far between at shows—the 4 is largely represented by newer examples built in the late 1970s and the 1980s. Other Renaults aren’t as lucky: very few enthusiasts are interested in the 12, the 14, the 18, and the 20/30 duo.
The same goes for Peugeots. Even a relatively nice 304 sedan is worth about as much as a 10-year old economy car, while an unrestored-but-running wagon can sometimes be had for little more than a case of beer. On the other hand, the 205—a Volkswagen Golf-sized hatchback built between 1983 and 1998—is quickly making the transition from a cheap, beat-up used car to a starter classic, and many hot-rodded GTI models have already been treated to an extensive restoration.
In contrast, the pocket-sized Peugeot 104 is one of the more under appreciated French classics. Clean, running examples routinely show up in the classifieds for less than a thousand euros.
Post-war Talbots built during the Peugeot era are nearly non-existent, and Simcas haven’t fared much better. You’re more likely to stumble upon a Chevrolet K5 Blazer than a Simca 1307 at a car show in France. It’s the poster child of the recyclable car that was mass produced, mass destroyed, and forgotten. Panhards, however, have carved out a niche for themselves in the classic market, and there are hugely active clubs dedicated to keeping as many of them on the road as possible.
Finally, it’s interesting to note that cars from the late 1980s and the early 1990s are slowly but surely marching towards classic status. It’s not uncommon to see a V6-powered Renault 25, a clean Citroën XM, or even high-end variants of the smaller BX parked among a sea of vintage machines built half a century ago.
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