2024 is ending; how about a quick canter through some of the best parts of it, from a European perspective? In no particular order, and with no controlling theme or narrative, except the pleasure of being a Curbivore.
1958 Rover 90. We used to think this a big car; the VW Golf begs to differ.
A 1948-1960 Peugeot 203. Tatra87 will have more details at his fingertips – I suspect he’s forgotten more about these than we could expect to ever know.
A 1953 Bristol 403, with the modified BMW based in line six cylinder engine. Note to the UK DVLA – this Bristol was not part of BLMC, whatever your website says. Also, parking up against an electric fence is not Curbivore friendly!
A 1990-95 Alfa Romeo 33 series II, looking a little tired outside a French tyre and exhaust shop. Fingers crossed for it….
A perennial CC favourite – a 1970-71 (I think – the CC commentariat will put me straight if necessary) VW Karmann Ghia convertible. Presented like this under French summer skies, you cannot deny the appeal.
Any Rolls-Royce is a rare sight in France; the most frequent sighting is probably a Silver Cloud but scarce is not the word. This early 1980s Silver Spirit is almost certainly owned by a British ex-pat residing in France. Catches the sun well!
Also catching the sun well was this 1966 Dodge Cornet 500 convertible. The 440 denotes a 7.2 litre engine, the largest available and the largest in this post. Alongside is a Nissan Qashqai, or Rogue, giving an idea of the size of an 1960s intermediate car in a European context. An attractive two tone, even if it does look a little like Di-Noc.
A 1974-76 Alfa Romeo Giulia 2000GTV, with classic yellow French headlights; photobombing by a VW Beetle cabriolet.
A 1974-76 Peugeot 504 cabriolet, which I suspect is the V6 version based on the tailpipe. Still a frequent entrant in my 5 Car Fantasy Garage. Even with these big bumpers.
Another regular in many a fantasy garage – the Citroen DS 21. This example is a 1971 DS21, seen in France but on UK plates and I suspect privately imported to the UK recently, and when seen en vacances.
Deep in the skunkworks of the CC back office is a post for the Land Rover Discovery series I. This example is actually a IA, a facelift of the original 1989 car, which retained the Austin Maestro van taillights among many Rover Group parts bin items. You don’t have to look very closely to see the original Range Rover base of these.
A 1956 Morgan +4, used as a daily driver for much of the year. This version had the Triumph TR3 1991cc engine and four seats, hence the larger hood.
Another daily driver, unless the owner takes his 1933 Rolls-Royce to work, is this 1925 Bentley 3 Litre tourer. The owner is visible with hat and polishing cloth. Glass of (English) beer not shown.
Commer FB camper also evident. Cupboard, not fridge, of English beer not shown (probably)
A 1950-60 Renault Juvaquatre Dauphinoise – the commercial version of the 1930s Renault Juvaquatre saloon. Not seen in real use anymore but this one is associated with a hotel and wine cellar. Any resemblance to the pre-war Opel Olympia is entirely coincidental, Your Honour.
What’s the collective noun for Opel GTs? Can I suggest a Stingray of Opel GTs? A French Opel GT club weekend event we met at an agricultural and rural life museum in south west France in September. To me, this car is ageing very well indeed.
A 1970-74 Triumph Spitfire Mk IV – always the poor relation to MG in the UK but perhaps not so much in North America. Still, if Ford of Europe didn’t need one compact roadster, did BLMC need two MGs and two Triumphs? Just a thought. But you can see the appeal, even if the performance was never that strong.
A 1984-97 Alpine A610 – the closest France ever got to a Porsche? The PRV V6 was mounted midships, the body was composite and many parts came from Renault, who marketed the car. Tempting though the logic might be given the interwoven nature of Renault, Peugeot, Simca and Matra, Alpine has a proud but very separate heritage to the Matra-Simca sports cars and by extension the Renault Espace, something Renault are building on in the market and F1 now.
With that, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, as echoed for 1925 by William Morris, on his Morris Cowley.
Since this is Christmas I would like to ask Santa for three gifts. First, the Giulia which I have only seen once and ridden in that time back in 1974. I know, irrational, being an Alfa in the long run but I was smitten. Second, the Karman Ghia/Opel Gt. Just look at those colors, I mean COLORS! What is not to like as they are fabulous. Third, the Bristol in black. Wish I could see the front but nonetheless so sleek and sinister at the same time.
What a splendid assortment of shapes, sizes, geometries, and colours! This short collection of excellent photographs demonstrates what cars used to be all about – attractive to the eye, variety of large and small, and full use of the colour palette.
The Karmann Ghia and the Coronet were eye popping from their bright colours. A Rolls in very square shaped design, and the Citroen DS21, a car I have only seen but never ridden in.
Excellent post!
So little known in North America is the Alpine. I’ve never seen one.
What a great selection here .
Hard for me to choose one best .
MERRY CHRISTMAS to all .
-Nate
Great selection of pictures – what a treat! Just last night I began to put together my own post on random 2024 car photos, and not surprisingly, there’s no overlap with yours!
My favorite here is the Bristol. I can’t fathom coming across one of these just randomly parked in a field, and if I did, I think I’d end up staring at it for about an hour.
I’m going to say that I really like that Opel GT in that lovely shade of tobacco brown. I’m so used to seeing them in bright colors, like most of the others pictured, but I think that color lends it an air of sophistication. It’s a design I’ve always liked, and that tone really works with it, IMO.
I’d like to be polishing my Bentley 3 Litre in the driveway.
Nice collection of finds. One very minor detail: the “440” on the Coronet denotes the trim level, not the engine size.
Well note there is the “Coronet 500” badging on the front end of the fender, but then also a “440” badge further back behind the front wheel opening — I assume indicating that there is a 440 under the hood. Definitely NOT an expert on these but that 440 badge doesn’t appear stock or correct for the car to me… but then neither are those cheesy wire wheels or that awful two-toning.
The 440 V8 was not available on the Coronet line in 1966. That’s why I just assumed he was referring to a Coronet 440 model. I only glanced at it. But I see that this is sporting a 440 engine badge and is obviously not original. Issue resolved.
In 1966 Dodge offered 3 series: the base Coronet, the 440 series, and the 500 series. The series designation had nothing to do with the size of the motor. In 1966 the motor options were the six cylinder, the 273 motor, the 318 motor, the 361 big block, and the 383 big block. The 440 motor was not offered until 1967. The 440-model designation was for marketing, not indicative of the size of the motor.
This would be like me making an “expert” comment about the motor in the Bristol, although I do own a Bristol so I would hopefully not make that mistake.
Such a great collection! The Bristol 403 is my favorite, followed by the Commer camper. Just because.
Happy Holidays to you!
Happy Christmas, Roger! Terrific collection. So many great ones from which to select a favorite, but the one that has me scrolling back for a second look was the Alfa Romeo Giulia 2000GTV – especially with those wheels. Part of me also wants to hand-crank the rotating headlight pods on a classic Opel GT at least once in my lifetime.
Great collection of really cool cars! I especially like the Peugeot 203 and Bristol 403 in sequence.
At first glance I thought the Bristol was some mutant SAAB 92 prototype, but then my eyes readjusted to behold a truly beautiful car.
Correction:
You’ll find the Alpine’s engine in the tail, with 2+2 seating. Just like a 911!
Any relation to the DeLorean’s powertrain is not entirely co-incidental.
Opel GTs are lovely. I keep having to remind myself the body is steel and not the GRP it looks like. Corvette effect?