Vintage Car Show

Saturday morning car show, in Bagnoles.

Saturday morning came early, we had picked up a guide to events in our town (in French, naturally) and as well as I could make out, there was an antique car show that was driving through Bagnoles at 8:30am and would leave at 9:00am. I had talked to the salesman that sold us our car about such traveling car shows. The cars drive from town to town stopping for a little while in each town. Thirty minutes seemed like an awefully short time, but this was France, it didn't have to make sense.

An open seat Riley that was a bit temperamental to start (I learned a few French cuss words), but it did start and had a nice exhaust note that sounded even sweeter to the owner.

"Come on, let's go. We were supposed to leave at 8:00 and it's 8:15." I called to Alice who was still in the bathroom.
"I just have to do my hair and I'll be ready." She called down as I paced the salon (that's French for living room).
"I'd feel bad about going without you, but not that bad. Put a hat on and let's go." I replied checking the clock again.
"I'm glad we live a stress free life style." Alice said as she came down the stairs. "Otherwise I'd be tempted to tell you, you're getting on my nerves. You can't rush cuteness you know."

A Jaguar XK150 and it's mate at the hotel.

After Alice finally got in the car, we raced down to where I thought the car show was supposed to be, only to find...nothing. No cars, no spectators, zip, nada.
"Well, I guess we could have had breakfast." Alice said with a smile.
"Maybe, it could be somewhere else in town. We'll drive around."
And we did, not at the Casino grounds, not at the covered grounds of the market, then we spotted them, still sitting in the hotel parking lot. A few car owners were out rubbing the night's drizzle off their cars. I checked the time, 8:35am.
As we parked and walked up I heard one car owner talking to the other, "Oh, about nineish we'll head over to the show."
We walked around and looked at the cars in the parking lot for a few moments before I caught a look from Alice that said, "Now can we have breakfast? Mr. I'm in a hurry?"

A beautifully restored Alvis.

We went home, had croissants and coffee and then drove back into town. The vintage cars were still coming into town when we parked just off the square. The vintage cars were parked along the road around the lake, a very scenic backdrop for a car show. There many cars from the 1920's and 1930's. There were many brands I was unfamiliar with and had never seen. Alvis, Riley, Lagonda, and Bristol were brands I was either unfamiliar with or had never seen in person. There were also many famous cars such as the Jaguars, MGs, and Bentleys.

Jaguar XK140, one of Alice's favorites. 

(She finished fixing her hair and then put on a hat!)

This old Lanchester was chauffeur driven. It has a speaking tube in the back seat with the other end near the drivers head in the front seat and a glass window between the front and back.

This old Triumph had a rumble seat with a pop up windshield.

Triumph

A very red Lagonda.

Early Jaguar SS, one of my favorites of the day.

 In the picture below Alice poses next to an older gentleman and the first car he ever bought!

10:00am and its all over.

The cars pulled out at 10:00am and went on to the next village or town. They all had smiles on their faces, coats, gloves, and heavy scarves, but big smiles.
It was the start of a very good day. We left for Montormel, a WWII memorial that marks the closing of the Falaise pocket, the battle that marked the turning point for the war in Normandy.