For more than twenty years, the Avignon Exhibition Center has been transformed every spring into a veritable pop-up museum of automotive history. The Avignon Motor Passion 2026 Auto Show, organized by Avignon Tourisme and CAM'S Organisation in collaboration with ACAV and FFVE, has established itself as one of the very first classic car shows in France. ALEPOC He was there to meet with local enthusiasts of classic cars.

An event that has become a must-attend

This 22nd edition confirms the success of an event that brings together, at 80,000 square meters spread across twelve halls, hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts from all over France and beyond. More than 2,000 vehicles are presented through 400 exhibitors and 100 clubs cars and motorcycles.

Among the featured exhibitions, two caught our attention: the Route 7 and theexhibition Simca.

Route 7

An immersive reenactment of the legendary “vacation route” connecting Paris to Menton, a symbol of the first paid vacations.

With the help of the local 4A club, a selection of popular French cars paraded through the exhibition grounds. In the center of the exhibition halls, a few French gems were on display.

Our four distributed brands were represented: Simca with an Aronde and a Simca 1,000, Renault along with some beautiful sports cars—the Dauphine Gordini and the R12 Gordini—, Peugeot along with a 403 and a magnificent 404 coupe, and Citroën in a 2CV van.

Among the attractions is a rare Citroën DS Tissier Set turned heads. In 1972, Pierre Tissier developed a DS-based car transporter for his personal use. He modified the suspension and braking system, which he patented and then had certified, before founding his own company, ADPT, to market these exceptional vehicles.

Also at Citroën, we were able to get close to a magnificent Citroën Type HY built by Jean Barou of “Écurie des Trapadelles,” a renowned coachbuilder based in Tournon-sur-Rhône, in the Ardèche region.

Check out our replacement parts for Citroën vintage

Over at Renault, one could see a beautiful and rare Renault 4 Sixties red. This version, launched in 1985 to appeal to young people, was produced in a limited run of just 2,200 units—733 per color—and there likely aren't many left.

Tray Simca and assistants

This edition featured Simca and the many tuners who have worked with the brand in one way or another.

Many boats had made the trip, such as the Simca Barou Special from 1938 or even the Simca Red from 1939, designed by Jean Roux, a mechanic and race car driver from Bordeaux.

Further on, visitors could also admire a lovely Simca Bertone 1200S Group 4, who has competed in numerous historic races, as well as one of the three Simca Spider 548 CG that still exist.

An absolute rarity !

Check out our replacement parts for Simca

Clubs and shows

As we wandered through the aisles of the fair, we went to the club meeting not only local residents, but also local representatives of national and regional clubs whom we know well.

But before that, we couldn't miss the magnificent Citroën Presidential SM built by Chapron. It was in 1971 that the new President of the Republic, Georges Pompidou, a car enthusiast, orders a new ceremonial car in preparation for the arrival of the Queen Elizabeth II. . Citroën is contacted and immediately delegates the task to Chapron, an expert in carrying out such projects.

Based on Citroën SM, Chapron modifies a large part of the structure. The rear gains 19 cm while the wheelbase is extended by 52 cm. The body has been widened to create more space and make it easier to open the leather convertible top, the windshield has been raised, and the front doors have been shortened. The result is striking—and only three copies will be produced.

At the booth of the "Traction Universelle" enthusiasts, another beautiful Citroën was there: a magnificent Traction convertible green.

Across from us, at the club's booth Peugeot 604 International, an extremely rare Peugeot 604 HLZ caught the eye. In 1976, Heuliez decided to take on the new French luxury segment by emphasizing its luxurious appearance. The 604 became a limousine with a wheelbase extended by 62 cm and bespoke customization: 4- to 8-seat configurations, air conditioning, leather interior, wood trim, sunroof, headliner upholstery, car phone, and even a driver’s partition. There was no shortage of options, but the car, despite being sold through the Peugeot, did not achieve the expected success. Only 124 limousines were produced, and about 40 are believed to still exist.

Returning to some of the more popular models—though they’re quite rare these days—visitors could admire a beautiful pair of Peugeot 203 Pickup and Peugeot 203 Sales at a beekeeper's booth. (Read the history of station wagons Peugeot)

Check out our replacement parts for Peugeot 203

At the enthusiasts' booth Simca France, we were able to discover an extremely rare Simca 1204 Rallye-Basty. Jacques Basty was a car dealer in Montargis, but he was also a race car driver, the president of an association, and a talented mechanic. He quickly proved himself with engines Simca. When, in 1970, the Simca 1000 Rally is presented, he creates his greatest masterpiece: he uses the engine 1,204 cc of the Simca 1,200 S, inflated to 85 hp using two Solex carburetors. The 53 hp of the production version is a thing of the past. But power is nothing without control. He made numerous modifications to the suspension: switching to four-wheel independent suspension, adding a front stabilizer bar, coil springs at the rear, hydraulic shock absorbers, and a dual-circuit braking system.

A partnership has been established with Simca, which supplies him with new cars and sells them through its network with a warranty, but the arrival of new models spells the end. Only 170 copies have been assembled, and only two remain—including this one !

In the aisles, other popular cars caught our eye, such as this lovely Renault 4CV Business from 1958 with its Ferlec automatic clutch.

One Renault Caravelle and a Peugeot 304 S Coupe appealed to fans of more playful French car designs.

A lovely duo of Renault 15 and Renault 17 took pride of place at the club's booth.

Check out our replacement parts for Renault former

A magnificent production brought together a Simca Gordini Type 11 and his support car, a Simca 6 vans.

At the club's booth Peugeot 104, one could admire a beautiful Peugeot 104 ZS rally kit, which competed in the 2026 Monte Carlo Historic (Read about the 50th anniversary of the Peugeot 104).

Outside, the gloomy weather didn't deter the bravest among them. A rare Renault 17 Kent logos were there, alongside a Peugeot 604 in the standard version, a selection of Peugeot 205 GTI and a delightful face-off between a Peugeot 203 and a Renault 4CV in a similar shade of gray.

Meeting with an Enthusiast

While walking around the trade show, we ran into Christian and his girlfriend Simca Aronde Montlhéry.

He is a member of the local 4A and his passion dates back to his earliest childhood. As the son and grandson of collectors, he has a special connection with this Simca : It was his father’s car, bought in 1965. He has many memories of vacations spent in it—at the beach, in Spain, in Paris, at Mont-Saint-Michel…

This Aronde has been through quite a lot, and it’s still in its original condition; Christian takes great care of it.

It is also an exceptional model. It dates from 1958 and is one of the last of its generation. Its finish Montlhéry echoes 37 world records established by a Simca The Aronde made its debut in 1953 at the racetrack of the same name. For 40 days, the car ran laps, completing 116,000 km at an average speed of 104.07 mph.

Equipped with the engine 57 hp Special Edition, recognizable by its red globe-shaped logo, it certainly isn't lacking in vibrancy.

Discover our mechanical parts for Simca Swallow

A wonderful encounter — read the full interview at our social media, where Christian shows off the other cars in his garage.

Summary of the event: a popular success

With more than 34,000 visitors welcomed during that weekend in March 2026, Avignon Motor Passion confirms its growing appeal. The 22nd edition lived up to all its promises: a wealth of exhibits, a diverse array of classic cars, and a festive atmosphere.

Avignon Motor Passion perfectly embodies the spirit of classic cars: a passion passed down from generation to generation, driven by a respect for automotive heritage and the joy of sharing.

At ALEPOC, ...we're more on board than ever !

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