Vintage cars and equipment show in France

[Miguel Parot]

Hello everybody,

Yesterday I attended with a friend of mine, Arnaud, who also owns a T34, the Epoqu'Auto show in Lyon, France.

Big show, hundreds of booths on 3 halls, all brands. Cars, parts, miniature models, equipment, upholstery, brakes, exhaust, etc. Just everything a vintage car needs.

On a booth dedicated to electricity I made a provision of 6 volts bulbs, all kinds. I was glad to get some 6 volts H-4 Amolux halogen bulbs for headlights, made in Spain by Manad SA, in Barcelona. They should give a bigger lighting power than the usual bulbs. (If everything goes well, a photo will be attached)

On another one, I found a very clever wiper blade system, that allows to keep your original wipers arms. It's german made, called Secu Vision. You just have to get rid of your old blades, insert this one which will be locked by a locking device at one end, and cut at the right length, and that's it. You have equiped your car with modern efficient silicon blades on your original wiper arms.

I was amazed by the price trend of just everything...

Cars, first : nothing serious below 25.000 Euros : Jaguar, Morgan, Austin-Healey sell for anything between 50 and 80.000 Euros, or more. Triumph, MG, MGB, MGB-GT, Alfa Romeo GT Veloce, Lancia of the 60's or 70's sell for 30.000 to 50.000 Euros. Many cars exposed at this level of price were wearing a "sold" sign.

A 60's VW bus, barn door, split, completely restored by Jeanlain Vintage was for sale at 95.000 Euros...(But not sold). I discussed with VW owners mentioning that oval Beetles in good condition retail nowadays for 18.000 / 20.000 Euros. A French low light KG 14 specially well restored sold for 35.000 Euros last month.

A French Renault Alpine from 66 was for sale at 75.000 Euros, a Renault 8 Gordini at 50.000 Euros.

More than 20 booths (!) selling miniature cars, models. A 1/43 Dinky Toys or Corgi Toys or Matchbox retails for 40 Euros without box, 75 / 80 Euros with its box.

Vintage enamaled badges, like club badges, or commemorative badges, that you place between the grids of your hood as an ornament retail at 75, 100, 150 Euros...I eventually got hold of a nice enameled badge of the Automobile Club de France for 25 Euros because the vendor was a friend of my friend.

Vintage plastic key holders at 25 / 40 Euros.

Vintage (empty) branded (Castrol, Motul, etc.) oil cans at 50 / 75 Euros.

As to vintage radios...I will write a special post, as it is really worth it !

Obviously the vintage cars and vintage cars equipment market is booming !

Cheers to all !

Miguel

Attachments:

[Jürgen Klein]

I use this Halogen 6 Volt bulbs in my T34 since this summer and they are very good ! The light is much better now !
Thank you for your interesting story `bout the show !
Maybe you have some pictures for us ?
Jürgen

[Miguel Parot]

Thank you Jürgen for sharing your experience on these H-4 bulbs.
I am glad to know that I bought the right thing, and am anxious to test them !

One question : my fog lights of my 1963 are working, but it looks to me that they are (today) somehow "symbolic". I would not imagine having to use them in case of fog ! Would you know of a kind of bulb that can improve their lighting power ?

Photos of the show ? I have taken a handful with my smartphone, but they are heavy in resolution, larger than allowed to be included in this thread. I will send them to Lee, perhaps he knows how to reduce them and include them in this thread.

I can for the moment include the photo of the Secu Vision wiper blades set.

More to follow...

Attachments:

[Miguel Parot]

Here I am again, for a personal comment.

I am a newcomer to the aircooled VW world, and specially to the French VW world. My comments may seem somehow naive to some of you, VW oldtimers and experienced aircooled VW owners.

My first attendance to an automobile show was the occasion to realize that, at least in France, VW seems to be a world apart. Apart from the split bus for sale, there was just no other VW vehicle on this show. On spare parts booths my friend and I were asking : "anything for a VW ?" and the answer was inevitably : "VW ?, no, nothing, sorry."

In this country, there is a MG club of France, an Alfa Romeo Club of France, a Jaguar club of France, etc. They all had a booth on the show, with nice cars exposed. But no "Airccoled VW club of France"

The same for magazines : French magazines dedicated to old cars will show articles and photos on vintage cars of all brands of all countries, but ...nothing on VWs...There is only one magazine that will write about aircooled VWs in this country : the monthly "Super VW magazine".

Aircooled VW owners live a life apart in this country : if there is no national club, there are many local VW clubs, one in every major city. Old time owners know each other, over the years they have met many times on shows, road trips, and they form a kind of "tribe".

They meet on VW events, on exclusive VW spare parts shows (the most famous being the one organized by the club of Valence, every year in February).

Of course, VW means most of the time "Beetle". and "Kombi". They are the most popular models. This is perhaps why VW owners are not easily allowed in the closed circle of Jags, Morgan, Alfas, etc. Because VWs are "popular" cars, much cheaper to buy, and not really aristocratic ... !

Even if KGs (14 or 34) form a club apart in the VW world, these sport cars remain in the eyes of owners of other brand cars a VW, i.e. a "popular" car !

It looks like the aircooled VW community does not like to mix with the community of other brands cars owners , and reciprocally, the multi-brands vintage clubs seem to be not very keen on taking VW owners onboard...

There is probably nothing very new nor original in what I am writing, but this is my recent experience and I felt like sharing it.

I feel proud now to be part of the aircooled VW owners community, and amongst that VW community proud to be a T34 owner, a very nice, exclusive and exciting car indeed !

Cheers !

[Jürgen Klein]

If they don`t want you in France look into Swizerland - it`s not too far away from you . There are some aircooled fans , also T34 owners .
Will send you a PM .
...and ...: Happy Birthday !

[Tom Reay]

Hello Miguel -

I live on the coast of California, halfway between Los Angles and San Francisco. There are several really large classic cars (old timer) shows in the area through out the year. There is hardly ever a VW in any of them. Almost all the cars are hot rods and custom American cars, which don't appeal to me that much. I still go because I do appreciate the work and craftsmanship people put in their cars. Also, from time to time there are some amazing stock restorations.

We do get a great Porsche 356 show every year (North meets South) and I'm love going to Monterrey for Car Week which is the best car event you can ever go to (that's about 2 hours away).

There are VW only shows in California, of course, but for me they usually involve a 3+ hour drive. Also, the standard for the quality of the cars you see there rarely approaches what I have seen in Germany and Belgium.

So, I'm just saying I understand your personal comment. But the e thing about being a T34 owner is you be amazed at how many people appreciate seeing your car and the nice comments you'll get. Just tell them it's the rarest production VW ever made....

[Miguel Parot]

Thank you Jürgen, and Tom, for your supportive messages !
I would not like any member of this forum to understand that I regret having bought my car and joined the community of the T34 owners around the world.

After a few weeks, and after attending my first automobile show I just felt like sharing with all of you my first impressions on how things are, at least in my country.

When I drive my "new" car in and around my home town, people wave and raise their thumbs at me ; when the car is not running, they come and see it, take pictures, They all say "what a nice car", "how pretty it is", how well kept it is", etc. That makes me feel very happy and proud to be the owner of that marvel...

It is true that they almost systematically ask : what brand is it ? As our car is definitely almost never identified as a VW model.

I now understand that none of us will ever get tired to show our T34 and give the right explanations about its history, facts and details.

Cheers to all