On Sunday, January 15, 2023, it was freezing cold on the southern forecourt of Vincennes Castle, but from 7:30 a.m., the old vehicles warmed the hearts of enthusiasts and onlookers. A new record was set for this event organized by Vincennes en Anciennes, with 750 vehicles over 30 years old and 2000 people in the vehicles. There were also 70 volunteers on site.
30 km across Paris
In total, 590 cars, 29 tractors, 4 buses, 107 motorcycles and 2-wheeled vehicles and 20 bicycles took part in the event for a good cause. Between 8:00 and 10:00, early risers were able to enjoy an extraordinary spectacle on Montmartre, which was the destination of this run.
The vehicles drove through Rue Lamarck, Rue Saint-Éleuthère, Place du Tertre, the foot of the Sacré-Coeur and Rue Saint Vincent. The representatives of the Republic of Montmartre were there in full costume, as were the P'tits Poulbots, who played the drums. The priest of the Saint-Pierre church in Montmartre blessed the cars. Behind this festive atmosphere was a charitable aim, as Vincennes en Anciennes donated one euro for every vehicle registered to support the work of the P'tits Poulbots de la Butte.
Afterwards, the cars drove back down. The Place de la Concorde was the second major attraction, with hundreds of vehicles and lots of people watching the cars drive past, taking photos and sometimes talking to the owners.
A wide range of vehicles
The oldest car was a De Dion Bouton from 1910. There were also 10 vehicles from the 1940s, 70 from the 1950s, 177 from the 1960s and 314 more recent classics. Citroën was the most represented brand (70 vehicles), followed by Renault (64) and Peugeot (50). There were also 35 Porsches, 28 Triumphs, 27 Fords and 24 MGs to complete the list.
Among the unusual vehicles was an SM converted into a car transporter, also known as a "millipede", which made a remarkable appearance.
A prestigious Mercedes 300 from 1953 with its 115 hp was a reminder of the past. It is called the "Adenauer" because the West German Chancellor used six of them and only wanted to ride in this particular model.
The sidecar sidecars included some remarkable examples from 1938 - a BSA Empire Star and a Zündapp K 500 with a Bernadet sidecar. BMW (12), Honda (9) and Yamaha (5) were most strongly represented among the motorcycles, Motobécane (21), Solex (18) and Peugeot (10) among the mopeds.
A total of 29 tractors came from far and wide, adding a bucolic touch to the Parisian scenery. The bikes were also ridden together and formed a nice peloton. 4 buses with rear platforms transported around sixty people who had registered for the crossing.
Colorful nostalgia
This amazing, rich and varied show brought a lot of theater to the streets of Paris by combining emotion, nostalgia and rolling heritage. "Once again, we have combined rolling heritage with architectural heritage. The particular folklore of the Republic of Montmartre and the good-natured atmosphere that prevailed in the capital led to many smiling faces and approving thumbs seen. Old vehicles have an undeniable appeal," summarized Patrick Gomez, Vice President of Vincennes en Anciennes.