5 Popular Choices for a Vacation

You probably know this if you follow Alepoc For the past few months, we have been offering a wide selection of parts—either remanufactured or new period-correct parts—for classic cars of the following makes: Citroën, , Renault, , Simca and Peugeot. Four brands best known for their popular cars (at least back then). And since it’s vacation time, today we’re featuring five popular cars that can take the whole family and all your luggage on the road. Because hitting the road in a classic car is just so much classier, more fun… and it already feels like vacation !

The criteria !

Of course, you can go on vacation in any classic car as long as you have complete confidence in its reliability! But in this case, we were a little more selective.

First, let’s look at the “popular” criterion. We’ll rule out overly expensive cars right off the bat and will only suggest cars here that cost no more than €10,000. This actually excludes a few popular models from that era, such as the Traction !Next, we’ll take a closer look at cars whose performance won’t turn you into a moving obstacle for other drivers—especially when you’ve loaded up the whole family and all your luggage. So say goodbye to the 4CV and 2CV for example.

The Top 5 Destinations for a Vacation

The Renault 16

We'll start this selection with the long-distance bus from Renault. A car designed for long trips that also stood out in its class. When it was released in 1965, it was the only car in its class to feature a hatchback. And when you consider how much luggage you’ll need for a getaway to the countryside, that’s a particularly welcome feature !

In terms of performance, this car has a pretty good suspension system with its independent torsion-bar suspension. And then there’s the Cléon Alu engine—not to be confused with the better-known and more common Cleon Fonte, with a displacement of 1,470 cm³ and 55 ch in the early versions, continued to evolve until 1980 and the end of production. Starting in 1971, all models had a displacement of at least 1,575 cm³ and produced 67 ch, with the TS delivering up to 85 ch and the TX boasting 1,647 cm³ and 93 ch !

Finally, in terms of price, you'll find R16s starting at 3,000–4,000 € and TXs starting at 6,000 €.

A practical, unique, and reliable car. And if you need parts, You can find it in our online store right here.

The Citroën GS

Even though the high-end models from Citroën While the Traction and DS models are outside our price range, the brand’s first car that’s truly a mid-range model comes highly recommended for family use with the whole family on board. And this is the perfect year to talk about it—the GS is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2020.

Be careful, though—the Citroën The GS is a tad less practical than the R16, since the tailgate wouldn’t be introduced until the GSA model in 1979. In the meantime, this veteran model has plenty going for it. For starters, when it comes to comfort, you get air suspension, and for a 500 km drive—regardless of road conditions—that’s a real plus. Look no further: among the brand’s classic models, this is the most affordable. It’s worth noting that the engine is quite powerful for the car’s size but tends to be a bit of a gas guzzler.

And just to be clear about the budget, you'll find Citroën GS models start at 4,000 € and the top-of-the-line models are around 7,000–8,000 €. Obviously, we’re not talking about the twin-rotor here. If you want to go on vacation, you’ll get plenty of performance, but your gas bill might skyrocket !

The Simca 1300 and 1500

In this case, we're offering you some unique cars here. Much less common than the previous two, the Simca 1300 and 1500 are, however, popular figures who deserve consideration.

Admittedly, these are more traditional cars. That’s evident just from their design—they’re three-box sedans. But at least they offer a spacious, easily accessible trunk. Plus, unlike the previous models, you can find station wagons.

In terms of comfort, they might be a notch below, and let's not forget that these are rear-wheel-drive cars. That said, these are cars designed for a trip to Camping des Flots Bleus in August, not to Tignes in February.

First introduced in 1963, the 1300 and 1500 are distinguished above all by their equipment, which is more extensive on the 1500 and by their engines. The first is equipped with an engine derived from the Rush—1,290 cm³ and 54 ch—while the second features an all-new 1,475 cm³ engine producing 69 ch.

With these cars, you'll be standing out from the crowd because, once again, they're rare and not in high demand. This is reflected in the price. A 1300 will fetch between €3,000 and €5,000, a 1500 between €5,000 and €7,000. And of course, we offer you parts to restore these cars, available in the online store Alepoc.

The Peugeot 404 and 504

Reliable, spacious enough for the whole family and their luggage, and powerful enough. Here are two cars that are sure to catch your eye when you're choosing a car for your vacation.

The first one, the Peugeot 404 was released in 1960. You can read a more detailed account of his story here, but we’ll keep it brief. It builds on the principles of its predecessors: a mid-to-high-end model with a front-mounted inline-four engine and rear-wheel drive. The three-box body style was designed by Pininfarina, and the all-new 1,618 cm³ engine produced 72 ch. It underwent gradual refinements, and the fuel injection system—which debuted on the Cabriolet in 1962—became available on the Super Luxe sedans the following year. In 1964, a new 5-bearing engine improved performance and reliability. It is also worth noting that the Peugeot The 404 was available in a diesel version, and you'll find it as a station wagon as well.

As for prices, you can find some great models starting at €5,000, and even the most expensive sedans are available for under €10,000. And as for parts, This is where it's all happening.

But if the Peugeot If the 404 is too old for you, you can always opt for its replacement (which was sold alongside it from 1969 to 1979 in France), the Peugeot 504. This is the culmination of the lineage of these Peugeot “classics.” The architecture is the same, but the engines are more powerful and larger, starting with a 1,796 cm³ model producing 73 ch with a carburetor and 97 ch with fuel injection! Designed by Pininfarina (for the rear) and the design studio of Peugeot (for the front, that is) its classic design is very recognizable, given how widely the car was produced.

Also available as a station wagon and in a diesel version, you can take the whole family on vacation with the Peugeot 504—and we might even invite you onto the highway if the state route starts to drag on !

Price-wise, you'll start at around 4,000–5,000 € for entry-level models, and you can even find the powerful Ti models for under 10,000 €. In short, they're perfect and popular! And when it comes to parts, once again Alepoc don't forget, You'll find them here.

Do you have any other cars like this to recommend? Let us know.