In this second of two trips down memory lane in the Paris area, we’ll look at some (mostly) non-French vehicles that might have been seen on the streets during the 1990-98 period, when I still lived there. More of these will be recognizable to our readers than the previous batch of Gallic exotica, but if you bear with me, there are a few surprises below.
Leading off are probably the most common (and arguably most boring) German-made vehicles of the era: a first-generation Opel Corsa (1990-93, post-facelift) (foreground) and second-gen Vectra (1995-2002), spotted in the suburb of Villepinte, next to an inevitable Renault Twingo. Old Corsas seemed to be the standard cheap wheels for students when I lived there, and the Vectra: well, in the UK they were considered a stodgy, sales rep’s car, so not hip at all. Didn’t stop ’em from flying off the lots, apparently. This particular model also served as the base for the short-lived Saturn L-series in the USA.
Somewhat less common, for whatever reason was the mid-sized Opel Astra (1994-98). This fairly clean example of the Caravan (wagon) variant was lurking alongside Gare de l’Est.
This heavily-laden Series 2 Volkswagen Polo (1990-94, post-facelift) did not in fact run down a hapless pedestrian in front of the Tour d’Argent. These were a highly popular choice if one wanted something a little nicer than a poverty-spec Renault 5 or Peugeot 205.
Here’s a well-maintained example of a Series 2 VW Golf GTI. Closest I ever got to one of these was a few rides in a co-worker’s base Golf sedan of the same vintage. I recall a lot of engine noise and that seemingly every interior fitting rattled at the slightest bump, but not much else about it.
The first-gen Mercedes-Benz A-Class (1997-2001) appeared near the end of my French sojourn, and made a pretty big splash not only for its distinctive one-box styling, but for an unfortunate tendency (long since cured) to trip and fall over in sharp maneuvers.
The original Fiat 500 had been long out of production by the time I got to Paris, but one would still see them here and there. In the 2000s. however, they’ve become nearly extinct, so it was a treat to glimpse this one from my vantage point on the Pont des Arts. The suicide doors indicate this is a D model (1960-65); no pampered car-show queen this one. I would have liked to have gotten more shots of Fiats, particularly early Pandas, Unos and Puntos, but this will have to do.
I was very pleased to stumble across this angular late-model Alfa Romeo 33 (1990-95) on Rue Chateau-Landon, as these were relatively frequent sights back in the day. Early 33s, like many Alfas of the period, were notorious rustbuckets, but a late switch to a galvanized metal substructure has helped preserve this one.
Minis, such as this Mark VI example (1990-95), were, as in many other cities, a popular choice for the urban hipster. Due to the complete mismatch in bumper height versus…anything not a Mini, the extra bars front and rear were absolutely essential if one wanted to keep one’s machine reasonably intact when parked on the street.
A bit of a ringer, as it was introduced just after my return to the States, I feel compelled to include this Rover 75 (1999-2003) (pre-facelift) anyway. These fairly interesting vehicles, handicapped in part by a perceived lack of support from then-owner BMW, cry out for the full CC treatment. In the meantime, big British luxury sedan, Italian registration, spotted in Paris: for a boy from Western Pennsylvania, it doesn’t get much more exotic than this…
…or this, truth be told. There are a whole lot of memories triggered by this candid shot of a beat-to-hell, second-gen Renault Espace (1991-97), once again on Rue Chateau-Landon. That laverie is where I used to do my laundry, and I ate at the restaurant next door numerous times, although back then it was a pizza joint rather than a noodle shop. As regards the Espace, the company I worked for had a very well-equipped one of these with a V6, and since I was the only employee in my department who actually lived in the city, I’d often be asked to use it to pick up visiting clients at one of the airports. Any tales of hooning across Paris with a vanload of terrified Libyan or Iranian geologists, I’ll leave for another day.
Yet another treat viewed from the Pont des Arts is this pristine 1971-78 Ford Transit camper, the primary alternative to a VW Type 2 for the discerning Euro-traveler. The plates indicate a Paris registration, so I guess they’re heading out of town for the weekend.
The most common American vehicles that one might find on Paris streets tend to be Chrysler products, mainly due to their having an assembly facility on the continent, in Graz, Austria. With that said, Mopars still weren’t frequent sights. This second-gen Chrysler Voyager (1991-95), a rebadged Dodge Caravan, somehow just looks wrong on a Paris street, as if a suburban soccer mom neglected to take that right turn at Albuquerque.
Even more out of place, what to make of this early Dodge Ramcharger (1974-80), taking the sun along the Seine in Conflans Sainte-Honorine? Glad I’m not paying for the fuel, or trying to ease it down one of Conflans’ narrow streets.
To close things out, here’s a brave soul negotiating Avenue Daumesnil in, of all things, a De Tomaso Pantera GTS (1972-83). This is another one that is clearly in regular use. Hey, cars are meant to be driven, so bravo!
Further reading:
Perry Shoar looks unfavorably at the sedan version of the Opel Corsa
William Stopford on the (Holden) Astra
Roger Carr’s treatment of the Renault Espace
What a diverse collection, a little bit of everything from everywhere. Looks like you need to be a brave soul to keep a well kept classic from experiencing battle scars. People must park by sound, and even make room when needed. Do people park out of gear and parking brake released? Every car that’s parked seem to be touching bumpers, how do you get out of being boxed in like that? I think the guy in the lifted Ramcharger probably has no worries. Nice looking Mk2 Golf.
I gather that is how it is done in some areas, park in neutral without the handbrake, then when you want to leave simply push the cars in front and/or behind like a compactus!
Great trip down a fairly recent memory lane !
Until the 1st gen Mercedes A-Class I had never heard of a moose test before. But Mercedes took care of the issue pretty quickly.
On the other hand, the moose failed the Mercedes-test.
They did, but the resulting ride comfort was appalling, IIRC
Nice! And a DeTomaso in the wild!!!!I love that Alfa Romeo, too.
Transit is a mid 60s to 78 model these were quite old hat by 71 but they kept making them often with Falcon l6 or Zephyr V6 engines and the bullnose front panel, other that the Ramcharger, De Tomaso and Caravan these cars are just traffic here Rover 75s were quite popular cars when new and all the Opels are in NZ via Vauxhall UK assembly in RHD and badged as Holdens, Golfs, Alfas,are still around in good numbers and its hard to tell that Minis actually went out of production except for those awful BMW large versions being around too.
Originally the Rover 75 was a FWD sedan.
Here’s the RWD Rover 75 V8 with the 4.6 liter Ford engine. The more sporty version was the MG ZT260.
I wonder how many other vehicles have been both FWD and RWD in the same generation? Has to be pretty rare.
I’ve had idle thoughts of trying to import a ZT260 once it’s eligible to be registered here at age 25. The 75 shape really speaks to me, and it’d be certainly unique. However, I much prefer the original 4-lamp nose to the version here with the more “blobby” units.
Nice article and I really like seeing the Chryslers in France, but I imagine finding a Chevy Alero or other Big 3 oddities would not be easy. Those Chrysler Voyagers sure do have a following in various European countries
Nice slide show, I hope you safely travel abroad and share again soon!
Those Opels may be “boring” in Europe, but they were the most reliable and sturdy Chevrolets in Brazil. Brazilians don’t use to make auto maintenance as the car makers recommends, doing it only when the car is already unable to move… so the first models to blew in this circumstances are the french ones (that’s why they are the stereotype of the one-owner car or the most fragile cars here).
Oh please, the Chevrolet Vectra C was the most beautiful GM from the 90’s, it’s not so gorgeous as the Laguna I, but in a poor Country where a car is still consider as a durable good, there are thousands of this Vectras still on the run here while almost all Lagunas and 406 are already resting in junk yards…
Ohhh that Pantera is dope. It actually looks like it belongs there – like some guy parks it on the street and drives it on errands and stuff, although it’s probably just by chance that you caught it out in the wild.
I love the looks of the Vectra… as a hatchback. Still looks good.
I rather sit in a R5 or 205 than that Polo. VWs have come a long long way. Although, none of them is better, A-body FTW.
Thanks for these shots, and hints at your life in Paris.
France is always good for CC spotting – better than southern England – and you’ve got a good set here.
I have a CC for the Rover 75 in the skunk works as well as a Transit history. Those bumpers on the Mini are typical French, and very unusual in the UK.
Great! Looking forward to them.
Probably not old enough to be a Curbside Classic, but this example photographed in Wuerzburg is the only Alfa Romeo station wagon I’ve seen.
The Pantera is a fantastic find. One of the more under-rated Italian exotics, in my own opinion. I’d love to see one on the street.
The Alfa 33 was one we never got over here, but it really looks like someone took a 164, truncated the tail, and changed the rear roofline. Brand identity is a good thing, but those are near-twins! Still quite attractive though.