Hooniverse Asks- What's Your Favorite French Car?

By Robert Emslie Jul 27, 2010


If you caught this week’s Top Gear, you would might have seen the News segment where Jezza brings up the fact that Citroën’s new UK Sales Director is named Charles Peugeot. That coincidental happenstance was good for a lark, but it did get me thinking about French cars – all suspension like warm brie and Louvre-appropriate styling –  and started the little chin pull in contemplation of which one’s my favorite.

Now I’m saving that for a little later here, but wanted to open the floor to you all in casting a vote for your favorite French car. Of course you may not have a favorite, you may in fact have a general dislike for Gallic rides, considering the French. . . well, there’s lots of stereotypes that we just don’t need to get into right now. However, if you lack an appreciation for French cars due to an unfamiliarity, may I suggest you rent Goddard’s Week End, or perhaps a trip to a serious wine merchant, as they typically like to drive French cars.
As I had said, I wanted to keep my selection until the end, and as we are now nearing that point, I can let on that my favorite French car is the Traction Avant. That car’s sweeping fender line and wheels at the corners stance has always resonated with me. Sure, I know that the French also produced the spectacular Figoni and Falaschi-bodied Talbot Lago T150, as well as brilliant cars from Delage and Delahaye, but the lack of pretense inherent in the T/A makes me gravitate to the Citroën.
Is there such a French beauty to which you feel a similar pull?
Image source: [Hubgarage.com]

38 thoughts on “Hooniverse Asks- What's Your Favorite French Car?”
  1. People in North America usually only get exposed to French cars if they're (a) of French descent or (b) a little weird. If, like me, one is (c) both of the above, the French car addiction can be quite strong and, indeed, a bit disturbing. If you're strange enough, you'll even bypass the truly great French cars (Bugatti, Facel, Alpine A110, Citroen SM) for something more mediocre, just because it means something to you.
    My grandfather bought one of these in 1961. Picked it up at the factory, which meant that his first experience with his new car was on the Champs-Elysees at 4:30 on a Friday afternoon. He had it shipped back to New York, and drove it home to San Francisco. He liked it so much that he suggested that my great-grandfather get one too; that car got passed on to my dad, who sold it just before I was born. Someday, I'll have one too. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peugeot_40

  2. Where to begin? I was raised in France and now live in California. My view of French car is somewhat biased by the fact that my father was a mechanic who hated working on French cars due to their needless complexity. I'm not talking about things like hydro-pneumatic suspensions, but everything else like the way simple things such as a glove box door is put together with hinges and latches made of 25 different special parts…
    I've been away from France long enough that I'm falling victim of the greener grass on the other side of the ocean syndrome and find myself browsing Ebay motors for Deux Chevaux and Déesses…
    When it comes to pure fantasy and solid unobtanium, Bugatti, Delahaye and Talbot Lago come to mind. SO here is just one picture, to drool over:
    <img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/4827532347_d2b4eba744.jpg"&gt;

  3. In the late 70's our neighbor had a "Le Car" which I thought was pretty cool. He was evidently the president of the regional Renault 5 car club, and on random Saturday mornings I would emerge from watching morning cartoons to find the house surrounded by these tiny Le Cars in every color imaginable. I even remember seeing Turbos once or twice.
    <img src="http://www.superfunpatrol.net/images/lecar.jpg"&gt;
    My only real experience with a French car however is this one. I gotta say, I'm surprised how much I actually like it.
    <img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs106.ash2/38662_1540820204996_1369652107_1420158_4332757_n.jpg&quot; width="500" />

      1. Ha-ha, Good eye! It's a '78 JAG BMX, Licorice-Black with Pineapple-Gold Moto Mag II wheels. I bought it new in 78 and just liberated it from storage this week. I plan on restoring it over the winter.
        Even sharper eyes will notice the ass-end of the infamous Killer Bee Lemons racer sticking out between the smart and the orange MGB. I hope to have the JAG in service as my next pit-bike.

  4. At least I'm not the only 505-loving weirdo around here. I always wanted a diesel 505 Wagon, which I think would have made me the Most Hated Man In Virginia.
    And I'd have been OK with that.

  5. Ever watch the Disney movie Ratatouille? Watch it again, or for the first time, and just watch the cars they use. You see them all!

    1. I have it loaded on my phone at all times just in case I need to bust out a movie for the kids. I do enjoy the cars and, for some reason, always want a snack part way through.

  6. When I was growing up, on trips to Indonesia to see my Grandmother, we would stay at my Uncle's place. He had a 505 which was forever breaking down, so much so that they had their own mechanic to look after it (this was Indonesia, with low labour costs, and my Aunt was a doctor). It was magnificently comfortable though, and I have fond memories of that car.

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