Traversée de Paris Hivernale 2017

Looking down from the Sacré Coeur to the Traversée de Paris participants and the light smog hanging over Paris.

With light smog hanging over Paris this morning there was a slight poignancy about the Traversée de Paris this year.    Paris is a city that in recent years has been badly hit by pollution and this is resulting in the city’s administration becoming more and more anti-motorist including being anti the classic car motorist.  Even though my asthma is made worse by the pollution, I will certainly not blame a few hundred classic cars for causing the smog.  Industrial pollution and the mistaken policy of countless governments to subsidise diesel fuel maybe. When you see the smiles on the faces of everyone who sees the classic vehicles go by, one hopes that this event can go on forever.  This is a great little event if you can call an event of over 600 vehicles little.  Certainly a few classic car owners decided not to go this year, feeling that they are only grudgingly accepted in Paris nowadays.  Luckily they were in a small minority and as you can see from the pictures below they were many owners willing to share their passion with us the tourists, spectators, photographers and bloggers who turned up to enjoy the spectacle.  The theme this year was “The Seventies” but a wide selection of bikes, motorbikes, cars and vans from all eras turned up.  For classic car lovers like myself it is the start of the season and often marks the first time in a couple of months to have seen such beautiful vehicles.   Vive La Traversée de Paris Hivernale. 

A Jaguar XK Fixed Head Coupé negotiates the admiring crowds around the Sacré Coeur. 

A Triumph TR3 takes a detour through the damp cobble streets of Montmartre.

To find out more about the Triumph TR3, click here.

"With a little help from my friends".  A motorized bike helps a pedal bike up the hill to Montmartre.

Fitting in well with seventies theme is this Lancia Fulvia seen below the Sacré Coeur.

There were some great motorbikes as well, including this Dollar made in pre-war France.

An imposing Lagonda exits the square in Montmartre.

Nicely preserved Peugeot 302.

Colourful classic traffic jam of Peugeot, Renault and Mini. 

Early Eighties Matra Murena S.

DB Panhard Le Mans Luxe Convertible in Montmatre.

Pre War Ford.

Citroen Avant

Lots of nice vans as well

Easy Rider

Pre War Riley Sports Car

Jaguar E Type V12

Volvo P1800 done up as Simon Templar "The Saint's" car

The Place de la Concorde is always a great place to get some good backgrounds to the car shots.

Following the participants though Place de la Concorde

Lovely old Bentley displaying allegiance to both France and the UK

As usual, lots of Americana including this Chevrolet Corvette.

Another lovely old motorbike at Sacré Coeur.

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John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page.