Joining 2026’s classic car cavalcade across Paris

By Classic & Sports Car Editorial team

| 8 Apr 2026

Classic & Sports Car – Classic cars in Paris: a dawn raid across the French capital

Few cities, and no other capitals, can boast as rich an automotive history as Paris.

The city of light counts Renault, Citroën, Facel Vega, Panhard et Levassor, Delage, Voisin, Talbot-Lago, DB and Darracq among the firms founded in or near its borders.

For the past 26 years, Vincennes en Anciennes has celebrated that heritage with the Traversée de Paris, a winter drive of more than 700 classics through the capital’s 20 arrondissements.

On 25 January this year, team Classic & Sports Car boosted their ranks by three.

Classic & Sports Car on tour – the mix of motors reinforces the international flavour of the Traversée de Paris

Stereotypes remain perfectly intact as Simon Hucknall’s ’77 Fiat 128 pulls out a week ahead of the event, with Toyota GB’s 1987 MR2 drafted in at the last minute to replace the poorly Fiat, which is struggling with timing-gear issues.

Aaron McKay’s 1985 BMW 325i and Damon Cogman’s 1982 Saab 99 are on hand to represent the Our classics fleet, however.

The latter, Damon assures us, had been thoroughly gone through since its Le Mans Classic histrionics, when it put the port of St-Malo on bomb alert with the world’s loudest-recorded backfire.

The quiet LeShuttle was devoid of other classic cars, in contrast to a summer Le Mans trip

A mid-morning LeShuttle booking reveals a Folkestone terminal far removed from busy summer periods, with check-in delayed only by Simon’s unfamiliarity with the Toyota’s window controls.

A lack of other enthusiast cars on the half-hour crossing just the day before the event – very different from days preceding Le Mans or the Le Mans Classic – confirms there are few other British participants making their way.

Taking a half autoroute, half route nationale path to Paris of about four hours unearths just one issue with the cars: a sound like a quietly played kazoo is emanating from the Saab’s engine bay, and lifting the bonnet reveals that the battery has slid forward on its tray, pushing the earth cable just into the path of the plastic cooling fan.

Old-school navigation aids maintained the classic theme

The 99 has always been missing its correct battery strap, and on its recent trip to a mechanic the large cable-tie used to hold it in place wasn’t replaced.

Using a daisy-chain of smaller cable-ties that would have made the Trollhättan engineers cringe, Damon fixes it to a point further back in the engine bay.

A night in Paris later and the Château de Vincennes start point is still in the darkness of early morning, but there’s no doubt we’re in the right place as the castle’s semi-ruined walls flash with the distinctive glow of various yellow headlights.

The Traversée de Paris line-up has early morning Rallye Monte-Carlo vibes

It’s an atmosphere similar to the start of a Rallye Monte-Carlo, as engines rev puffs of condensing exhaust into the cold, dark sky while sitting in parallel queues, and organisers in high-vis jackets buzz around barking incomprehensible orders.

Roadbooks are handed out to participants, but it’s the cars that are really grabbing all the attention (keep reading to meet some of the local enthusiasts and their classics).

You come to an event such as this hoping to see some rare French oddities, and as a Simca Chambord pulls up alongside Simon’s MR2, its small, 2.4-litre V8 quietly woofling away, it’s clear there won’t be any disappointment on that front.

A late-model Renault 15 coupé is another sight not often seen in the UK, but the real spotter’s coup is the Citroën M35, one of just 267 rotary-powered coupés built.

Classic cars explore Paris at dawn, with some help from the local police

A good proportion of the 155 motorcycles taking part in the run start off in a raucous cacophony of two-stroke ring-a-ding-ding, with classic Peugeot scooters buzzing around the occasional Harley-Davidson and Triumph.

After more confusion, and a nearby Austin-Healey threatening to overheat as it idles in the queue, the cars follow, complete with a police motorcycle escort.

With the MR2 sitting between a Peugeot 504 Cabriolet – its Kugelfischer fuel injection doing its best to single-handedly spike the Paris hydrocarbon levels – and a Ford Model A, the variety of the event could hardly be better illustrated.

Until, that is, a Subaru 360 pulls up alongside at a set of lights. Driven by a Kiwi who jokes this will be the last we see of the 356cc two-stroke on the run, the tiny kei car duly fades into the night as faster cars pull ahead.

This Subaru 360 illustrates the event’s eclectic mix

Not that anyone gets up much speed, of course, the capital’s roads having become far less car-friendly in recent years.

There will be no recreating C’était un rendez-vous or Ronin when every minor junction is now controlled by traffic lights, while the famously bohemian Montmartre district has to be circumvented due to new pedestrian-priority roads on which cars are limited to a walking-pace 6kph.

Still, some of the Paris landmarks get ticked off, including the quietest Place Charles de Gaulle (the Arc de Triomphe roundabout) you will ever see, around which the Classic & Sports Car convoy is only cut up the once, by a Mercedes-Maybach S-Class whose driver is promptly labelled a “bloody plutocrat” by Simon.

The Traversée de Paris is a vibrant celebration of the city’s long history as a cradle of motoring innovation

The descent towards the Seine takes in the Jardins du Trocadéro’s iconic view of the Eiffel Tower, its very top still consumed by morning mist.

Sadly, the tower is about as central as the Traversée can achieve this year, and for the foreseeable future, with only the very edge of the central 5th, 6th and 7th arrondissements touched by the run.

Further changes in city-centre road layouts mean cars can no longer gather at points such as Place de la Concorde and Les Invalides – which in past editions of the event formed delightful mini shows, with classics pulling in and out all morning long.

Classic & Sports Car’s fleet – with a world-famous backdrop

The Place d’Italie has picked up the mantle, however, with classics parking up around the edge of the large, cobblestone roundabout for owners to stop for a brief chat with others.

It’s a great point to be a spectator, too: not everyone stops, and after one of three Citroën DSs – clearly doing the run in convoy – gets stuck at some lights, it then comes tearing around the roundabout at the sort of speed only a hydraulically suspended car can manage on cobbles, complete with comic levels of body roll.

Mustangs, Fiat 124s, MGBs, 2CVs and all sorts follow the manic Citroën.

The Citroën DS contingent dealt better than most with the suspension-taxing Paris cobbles

Eventually the route returns to its start point at Château de Vincennes for an end-of-event show and a chance to talk to the owners of cars we’ve spotted throughout the day.

Stories of classics owned from new mingle with those who have just bought their first old car, and rare gems continue to appear.

Festival of the Unexceptional-baiting French metal such as an immaculate Renault 6, a classy Peugeot 403 and a Renault Clio Baccara give the few UK punters what they came for.

There are surprises you wouldn’t expect, too, such as Laurent Choquet’s Ford Thunderbird or Stephanie Coulée and Christophe Garcia’s Ford Capri 1700GT.

Laurent Choquet bought his 1957 Ford Thunderbird a year ago, but is a veteran of the Traversée de Paris in other vehicles

Sunday-trading laws mean our obligatory supermarket run can’t include any wine, but that is the only hurdle on our drive home.

We all return smoothly via LeShuttle, the Saab clearly showing mercy as its tyre chooses the following morning to deflate.

Negotiating Paris early on a Sunday morning is the perfect amount of effort, without too much adversity, to make for an interesting trip, but the other cars on the run provide the real highlights.

Short perhaps in high-end exotica, the event’s variety is a real panacea for those familiar with the British car scene.

With the Traversée de Paris completed, team Classic & Sports Car convenes at the finish line prior to departure

Even though the Parisian authorities have tarnished the specialness of the Traversée a little with overzealous traffic management in recent years, it remains one of the most atmospheric car events on the calendar.

At its best when vehicles of all nations fill the charming boulevards with yellow headlights and parping exhaust notes, it continues to remind all but the most ardent car-hating cynics that these old machines are history, beauty, technology and passion combined – and well worth preserving in the face of well-meaning yet clumsy politicians.

Words: Charlie Calderwood

Matra Murena: Yannick Dufour

Traversée de Paris first-timer Yannick Dufour brought his Matra Murena for the tour of the French capital

Yannick could have brought any one of his 15 classic cars to the event, including a Corvette Stingray, Mercedes-Benz SL, Jaguar E-type, Matra Djet, Ferrari Dino and even a Lanchester sports saloon.

Surprisingly, though, the relatively humble Matra Murena was given the nod over his rather more exotic machinery for Yannick’s debut run in the event, but it proved to be an excellent choice – except for his second passenger, who complained that the middle seat in the Matra’s distinctive, three-abreast front row was quite tight.

The Matra Murena’s occupants were snug in the three-abreast seating

Yannick has owned the car for more than 10 years and is just its second owner.

When asked how he chooses which classics to add to the collection, his answer is refreshingly simple: “If I like it, I want it. I need to have different types of engine for a different type of driving sensation.”

You can’t argue with that.

Words: Damon Cogman

Amilcar Model G: Emmanuel Rauline

Amilcar was based in Paris

Emmanuel Rauline’s lovely, French Racing Blue Amilcar Model G went a long way towards compensating for a general lack of pre-war cars at this year’s Traversée.

Built in 1925, it uses Amilcar’s own 27bhp 1.1-litre ‘four’, delivering drive via a four-speed gearbox. Known as ‘the poor man’s Bugatti’, Amilcars were built in Paris, not far from Château de Vincennes.

The body on this car was also likely from Paris, by coachbuilder Duval.

The Amilcar Model G’s engine-turned dashboard

Alas, the company only enjoyed fleeting success as a purveyor of sporting machinery, with almost all of its production concentrated in the 1920s.

Emmanuel, who has owned the car for three years, says it’s relatively easy to drive once you’ve mastered the centre throttle.

He is even planning a trip to the UK this spring.

Words: Simon Hucknall

Seat Sport 1430: Emmanuel Rauline

The Seat Sport 1430 is a rare find

No one could identify Joël Lansard’s car as it parked up on Place d’Italie.

There were hints of Fiat 128 Coupé in its design, but his 1979 Seat Sport 1430 is actually based on the Fiat 127, with a 128 gearbox in-unit with its 1438cc ohv ‘four’, mounted transversely and driving the front wheels, unlike in the Fiat 124 from which the engine was taken.

A real parts-bin hybrid, in other words. But its origins are more intriguing.

Styled by ex-Fiat design chief Aldo Sessano, it was first shown as the Nergal prototype on Italian paint brand Glasurit’s 1970 Turin motor show stand.

The Seat Sport 1430 is a hodgepodge of various Fiat components

The production version was to be powered by a rear-mounted NSU Prinz TT 1200cc engine and employ Fiat 850 Coupé underpinnings.

But after NSU’s downfall, Seat took advantage of Fiat’s new 127 platform, transforming the Sport into a neat and modern-looking front-drive coupé. The faux C-pillar vents are the only clue to its original conception.

Paris-based Joël has owned the Seat for four years; this was his first time using it on the run, but he found its compact dimensions were perfect for the congested Parisian streets.

Words: Simon Hucknall

BMW 520: Alex & Michel Cloup

Michel Cloup (on right) bought this BMW 5 Series when it was new

Michel Cloup is a Château de Vincennes regular, joining its monthly car meets with the 1981 E12-generation BMW 5 Series he has owned from new.

This was his third Traversée and, despite the changes to this year’s route, he still had a great time with son Alex alongside.

The retired engineer has covered 150,000km in the BMW, which hasn’t been restored.

This BMW 5 Series has been carefully maintained by engineer Michel

“It has just had new belts and oil,” Michel says, “although I did fit new Sachs dampers 15 years ago.

“The front suspension is sensitive to geometry changes under hard braking. I told BMW about the issue when it was new!”

Words: Aaron McKay

Renault 5 Turbo 2: Gayan Hapanthatirige

This Renault 5 Turbo 2 is driven regularly by enthusiastic owner Gayan

Looking like a refugee from a 1980s Rallye Monte-Carlo, the R5 Turbo 2’s natural habitat is a far cry from the unforgiving roads of central Paris.

Gayan wanted to buy this wild hot hatch as soon as he spotted it in the local area, but it took three years of persistent negotiation to persuade its previous owner to let the car go.

Pleasingly, this is no show car: in the first year of Gayan’s ownership, 3500km were put under its turbine-style wheels.

Big wheelarches and ‘Turbo 2’ script guarantee this mid-engined hot hatch isn’t mistaken for a regular Renault 5

Gayan’s next adventure with the Renault is a road trip through the south of France and into Portugal, following the famous rally stages of the 1980s.

Describing the sensation of driving this mid-engined turbo, he says: “It’s like a go-kart, very light, but it’s not too fast. It’s only 160bhp, which is enough for this car.”

With a big smile, he adds: “I want to feel the car, not just put it in a collection.”

Words: Damon Cogman

Jaguar XJS 6.0: Frédéric Blanc

Frédéric Blanc’s Jaguar XJS made its Traversée de Paris debut in 2026

“The XJS was my dream car as a child, after it launched in 1975,” explains Paris-based Frédéric.

“I told my best friend that one day I’d own one, and when I eventually bought this car five years ago, I took it round to him to prove that I had finally fulfilled my dream!”

Frédéric’s car is a later-generation 1994 model, fitted with the 6-litre V12 – which, he says, is ruinously uneconomical plying the stop-start Parisian traffic, although on a run he can expect 15-20mpg.

It’s not the most frugal classic, but the Jaguar XJS is Frédéric Blanc’s boyhood dream come true

His XJS was bought new in Germany – hence it being equipped with four round rather than twin lozenge-shaped headlights – and has been very reliable apart from a broken heater, noticed when he picked up the car in Lyon.

This was the first time that Frédéric had both driven a car at the event and attended in January.

Being “more of a ’biker”, he has done the July Traversée four times on a motorcycle.

Words: Simon Hucknall

Volkswagen Scirocco: Xavier Barthe & Marius Sarchet

Xavier Barthe (left) has shared most of his life with his bright-red Volkswagen Scirocco

Parisian Xavier is a regular on the Traversée, and this year he invited friend Marius to join him as passenger in his beloved Mk1 VW Scirocco, which he bought new as his first car in 1975.

“He just really liked it and could never come to sell it,” says Marius.

It is a delightfully original car that has only required piecemeal restoration to keep it on the road.

This beloved Volkswagen Scirocco even has its own merchandise

Xavier even has matching merch, including coffee mugs and a straw boater, which sports tartan trim matching that of the Volkswagen’s interior.

Words: Charlie Calderwood

Citroën Onze Normale: Jean-Michel Flebus

Driving the Citroën Onze Normale in the stop-start Parisian traffic is a challenge – but a good workout for your leg

Jean-Michel Flebus restored his 1952 Citroën Onze Normale himself.

He has just one complaint about the Traversée: “There are far too many red lights in Paris, my leg is aching from all the clutch work.”

Ford Capri 1700GT: Stephanie Coulée & Christophe Garcia

This Ford Capri 1700GT is becoming a Traversée de Paris regular

Stephanie Coulée and Christophe Garcia were taking part in the run for the fifth time in their 1969 Ford Capri 1700GT – a purchase inspired by Christophe’s father owning a Capri decades ago.