It’s a veritable Ali Baba’s cave that reveals itself at Stéphane Gac, in Bodilis. Let's be clear, not a cave filled with pieces of silk, brocades, carpets, gold and silver, but a 350 m² hangar with around twenty cars, all kinds of two-wheeled vehicles, stripped engines, spare parts… In particular Volkswagen Golfs, as well as motorcycles and mopeds.
There is no doubt that the 52-year-old Bodilisian has a great passion for mechanics. Unsurprisingly, he currently works in the technical service of the Community of Communes of Landivisiau (CCPL), after having been a mechanic in the National Navy. “I started putting my nose into engines quite young,” confides the native Brestois. “It was first on mopeds,” he remembers. Besides, the one I had at 14 is in my shed, as well as my grandfather's. »
The moped I got when I was 14 is in my shed, as is my grandfather's.
From the mob' to the motorcycle, there is only one step. Which Stéphane Gac quickly crossed. As evidenced by the Yamaha which shines in the hangar. And to satisfy his passion as it should be, the Bodilisien specially obtained his motorcycle license. What's better than renovating the two-wheeler to enjoy the pleasure of riding it afterwards?
“The vintage side is coming back”
For ten years, Stéphane Gac has particularly invested in old cars. He has a weakness for the Golf 2 and the GTI. Not chauvinistic, he also pampers his Peugeot 103 with always the same desire. “I sometimes go with this one to work at Landivisiau,” he says. On new cars, it's sad that we can no longer stick our noses in them. “Now we need the computer. What also saddens me, on two wheels, is that today, we are subject to a two-wheeler registered to do 150 km in the year with, in addition, a technical inspection, notes the Bodilisien. In the past, we bought a two-wheeler and went with it. »
I find that the vintage fashion is detrimental to the passion we have for renovating the vehicle, laments the mechanic. Then there is speculation.
From time to time, Stéphane Gac repairs and resells a few vehicles. “It allows us to finance the purchase of other vehicles,” explains Leonard. “The vintage side is coming back. Now people are willing to pay a price to buy these renovated vehicles. But I find that the vintage fashion harms the passion we have for renovating the vehicle, laments the mechanic. Then there is speculation. »
“It’s a legacy that I passed on to my boys”
“A Golf that my sons and I bought for €2,000, we renovated it and sold it for €15,000,” he illustrates. Because Stéphane Gac also lives this passion with his family. He passed it on to his sons who also have their own place to tinker, transform or renovate their cars. And, like their father, a Volkswagen Golf. “It’s a legacy that I passed on to my boys,” confirms the Bodilisian. Of course, it is financial capital but above all it is passion that I pass on to them. »
But most of the time, his vehicles, around ten, remain in his hangar with a certain pride. It's impossible, moreover, to miss the red Mustang which sits in a special room dedicated to friends, with a bar for discussing mechanics.
