The organizers, Collection Passion Nantes (CPN) and Grand Tourisme Orvaltais (GTO) were full this weekend by bringing together 280 vehicles without any problem, despite the many other events of clubs and associations of old machines, surroundings. Too bad, this execrable weather which appeared at the end of the Traversée de Nantes 2024… at the time when the participants’ picnic was to be set up.
The years go by and… the sun and the summer outfits of 2023 were not part of the Festival. The long procession of two and four wheels quickly mingled with the Nantes Sunday urban traffic. The route of the Traversée de Nantes 2024 was well signposted, and took no less than five structures on the Loire, including one on the Erdre… then a sixth which spans the Sèvre Nantaise, in the South Loire sector, at Portillon .
The Misses of Nantes and St Herblain, the Mayor of Bouffay, were still the traditional celebrities of the meeting. There was also Breton entertainment provided by the Bagad group, until the time of the big departure of the loop scheduled for 10:30 a.m.
The Traversée de Nantes 2024 sets off
Here we go, with the pretty Grannies who took the lead in operations, opening this new circuit of the Traversée de Nantes 2024. The 1930s, here you go.
The post-war and popular models followed in the footsteps of the pre-war, notably with the Citroën Traction Avant, Simca Five and six, MG YT, Talbot Lago Baby and this nice Renault Voltigeur.
Still on the popular side we obviously saw the Citroën 2CV, the Renault 4CV, the Simca Versailles, Peugeot 203, for example.
The tradition of the event is always to bring together automobile brands, and in alphabetical order, so to find all the sixties, we had to juggle. Here is a nice selection during this Crossing of Nantes 2024, with VW Beetle, Peugeot 403, Matra Djet, Jaguar Type E, Renault Dauphine, Panhard 24 CT, Austin Cooper…
The representatives of the Seventies were in number at the Traversée de Nantes 2024, with several models of Citroën 2cv, and Peugeot, 404, 304 and 104. The choice was also vast in Renault, the R8, R10, Caravelle, 4L, R16 and then this Estafette… And then she was very shy, but she is so rare, this Simca Chrysler 160.
The Traversée de Nantes 2024 was again copiously armed with Sportswomen. The main major automobile brands did not miss this 14th Nantes meeting. Ferrari, Porsche, Jaguar, Triumph, MG, Austin Healey, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, Alpine Renault, Lotus, Morgan were there.
Always faithful, the two wheels, and it was especially the mopeds which stood out this Sunday. Around fifty Motorcycles, Mopeds and “side” riders who braved the cool of the day.
It was even a cyclist who took on the challenge of getting into the heart of backfiring mechanics of all kinds. In almost total anonymity, if we hadn’t noticed the event plaque and in civilian clothes. Without a derailleur, the machine is simplified by a simple chainring and a single-crown freewheel. Hey! yes, it’s a specimen from 1920…
As for its owner, he will fulfill his contract without complaining and obviously not very tested by this Traversée de Nantes 2024, where we could find him among the 2 motorized wheels and respectful of the highway code. Let’s salute his performance… in the age of modern and heavy electric bikes.
They were out of the ordinary
Everyone has their own opinion on probable “favorites”. Many of these vehicles were notable and presented in conditions that will leave some admiring. The Americans really stood out.
Personally, is it due to my age, but above all it is my past, which immediately comes into action, when I see such a van from the 1930s arrive. If you embark, like me, in the search for its true identification … Well it’s very complicated. I still have these two photos from the internet to show you.
This Van entered in La Traversée de Nantes 2024, as a Peugeot 201 B from 1936. On Autoblog, it can be 201 DL 4ALB. Elsewhere we talk about a certain Alex Kow who imagined it. In short, from its “Boulanger version” look, here it is a van, with its rear bodywork transformation… and it is an extremely rare Peugeot 201 model… It is truly magnificent, this favorite.
We could also be touched by this cute and superb Simca 5 from 1937.
Its rarity and magnificent presentation will have raised awareness among connoisseurs. This Opel Manta GT/J was a pure marvel. And then on two wheels, this Motobécane 94 TT sidecar really got me on board.
Since we are among the exceptional models, gathered during this last “Traversée de Nantes”, around the Americans, there was something to salivate about. Ford Mustangs certainly in number, but also Chevrolet Corvettes.
Otherwise, you could focus on this Ford of Yesteryear, this Ford A coupe… and these more recent and monumental Ford ThunderbirdChevrolet Nova, or Caprice. Again, the Pontiac Transam, the Buick PA, the immense Ford LTD 2 Coupé and the famous Excalibur Phaeton at the service of Miss Nantes.
And what about this historic monument of the ARNO Club (Auto Rétro Nantes Océan) The antique Bus Chausson APH 2.50 from 1951, which will have been full of passengers, in order to revive their youth by also completing the loop of the Crossing Nantes 2024.
Eyes towards the sky
This is enough to make us forget the “Picnic” sequence embellished with this unpleasant weather. We still had fun, thanks to the two organizing associations, Collection Passion Nantes (CPN) and Grand Tourism Orvaltais (GTO), as well as all sponsors. No matter the weather conditions we will register for the future Crossing Nantes 2025 and why not… in old…
