All-French Day 2016 - Queensland car show

By: Ben Dillon, Unique Cars magazine

Date: 07.12.2016

Snails, baguette and stunning shapes mark the comeback of the All French Day Qld

Wouldn't be a French car show without a flock of Goddesses.

The 32nd annual running of the La grande exposition de l'automobile Francaise, or French Car Day to those not fluent in Gérard Depardieu, saw a larger number of entrants along with a much more varied range of models over the previous few years, thanks to a concerted effort by the organisers to put the QLD French Car Show back on the must-do list of car enthusiasts nationwide.

To this end Edith Piaf was playing over the PA and snails in garlic butter were being served, but the variety of sculpture in metal was the main attraction.

The 30-plus examples of the Citroën DS on show spanned the course of DS manufacture from early ID 19 to DS 21 and DS 23 Pallas along with Safari (wagon variant) and a rare décapotable (convertible) all still wowing the general public six decades after the DS debuted at the Paris Motor Show in 1955.

Added to this was an even greater number of Citroën models bookending the manufacturer’s history, including several Traction Avant, a raft of 2CV including several Acadiane panel vans, a pair of gorgeous Maserati V6-engined SM, the truly quirky Ami 6, AX GT hot hatch, a gaggle of CX and its little brother the BX to the moderns including the suave C6 and ridiculous Cactus.

Peugeot and Renault were well represented also, with models spanning the 1950s onward with the familiar three number Pug range on show with 203, 306GTi6, 406 V6 coupe, 504 sedan and luxobarge 604 as well as the iconic 205GTI and its great grandson the new 208GTi.

Renault standouts included the incredibly petite 4CV 750, Dauphine, Floride, Fregate, R8, 16TS and incredible Alpine A110 race car.

The Simca club also deserve a big shout-out for being the smallest but probably most fun club, much like their cars, with several Aronde and a rare 1501 Special in attendance.

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