Good classic car tour in France?
Discussion
I was thinking of getting my dad something nice for his birthday - he's had a pretty tough year, and I'd like to get him something to cheer him up.
He's got a couple of old 1940s/50s classics, and I was thinking about booking a classic car tour in the south of France for next summer for him; 4 or 5 days cruising around some chateaus and vineyards in the sun. Our thinking is that he'll have 6 months or so to work on whichever car he wants to use (to keep him busy) and something nice to look forward to next summer.
His cars are serviceable, but struggle on motorways and there's a fair chance that a 1,000+ mile journey (Scotland to south of France and back) will likely produce at least one breakdown.
Can anybody recommend a reliable company with reasonable support organising/co-ordinating classic car tours in France?
He's got a couple of old 1940s/50s classics, and I was thinking about booking a classic car tour in the south of France for next summer for him; 4 or 5 days cruising around some chateaus and vineyards in the sun. Our thinking is that he'll have 6 months or so to work on whichever car he wants to use (to keep him busy) and something nice to look forward to next summer.
His cars are serviceable, but struggle on motorways and there's a fair chance that a 1,000+ mile journey (Scotland to south of France and back) will likely produce at least one breakdown.
Can anybody recommend a reliable company with reasonable support organising/co-ordinating classic car tours in France?
Do your own thing. Go east towards Switzerland to Mulhouse for the Schlumph museum. You can easily spend a day there. There are plenty of D roads to avoid motorways, and they are pretty well deserted. Ideal for a classic trip.
On the way you are going through the Champagne triangle - so lots of vineyards and tasting.
The distance is a lot less too. If the old chap has had a lot of stress, the last thing he needs is a long trip to the south. The autoroutes ore so boring, whereas going the long/pretty way makes the journey enjoyable. follow your own timetable.
Venez sans bout. Is the French expression. Go without target.
On the way you are going through the Champagne triangle - so lots of vineyards and tasting.
The distance is a lot less too. If the old chap has had a lot of stress, the last thing he needs is a long trip to the south. The autoroutes ore so boring, whereas going the long/pretty way makes the journey enjoyable. follow your own timetable.
Venez sans bout. Is the French expression. Go without target.
Hi, what make of cars has he got we travel to France twice a year and I book the hotels and plan the routes myself as we do not use motorways and drive through the towns and villages and stop off for coffee and croissant, we travel at about 40-50 MPH as we are never in a hurry and only travel 140-160 miles a day we try to arrive at our hotels around 1400hrs so we can have a look around for somewhere to eat in the evening. If you look at "Scenic Car Tours" they do lots of tours to France but sometimes they travel to far in a day for us which makes you have to travel at a faster pace. 
spitsfire said:
I was thinking of getting my dad something nice for his birthday - he's had a pretty tough year, and I'd like to get him something to cheer him up.
He's got a couple of old 1940s/50s classics, and I was thinking about booking a classic car tour in the south of France for next summer for him; 4 or 5 days cruising around some chateaus and vineyards in the sun. Our thinking is that he'll have 6 months or so to work on whichever car he wants to use (to keep him busy) and something nice to look forward to next summer.
His cars are serviceable, but struggle on motorways and there's a fair chance that a 1,000+ mile journey (Scotland to south of France and back) will likely produce at least one breakdown.
Can anybody recommend a reliable company with reasonable support organising/co-ordinating classic car tours in France?
PM me about this and I can help.He's got a couple of old 1940s/50s classics, and I was thinking about booking a classic car tour in the south of France for next summer for him; 4 or 5 days cruising around some chateaus and vineyards in the sun. Our thinking is that he'll have 6 months or so to work on whichever car he wants to use (to keep him busy) and something nice to look forward to next summer.
His cars are serviceable, but struggle on motorways and there's a fair chance that a 1,000+ mile journey (Scotland to south of France and back) will likely produce at least one breakdown.
Can anybody recommend a reliable company with reasonable support organising/co-ordinating classic car tours in France?
J
Take him to cite de automobile at Mulhouse , let him view the museum collection one day then they hire classics for half day - day touring around the area. All organised and the cars are pretty decent .
We drove a 356 roadster and a c1 corvette , there was also a 3000 healey , mondial and I believe they have an e type and a couple of others . We only took them around the track at the back though .
We drove a 356 roadster and a c1 corvette , there was also a 3000 healey , mondial and I believe they have an e type and a couple of others . We only took them around the track at the back though .
Definitely do your own thing. Your Dad's cars won't know they're abroad, to them 1000 miles there is just the same as 1000 miles in the UK, I'm sure they can cope with that. Stay off motorways if they're not comfortable on them, that's what I do in my '63 Riley, it's far more interesting driving the back roads.
Unless you've a specific reason, why go as far as the south of France? There are plenty of places to visit further north; that way you'll spend less time getting there and more time enjoying yourselves - the weather is pretty good wherever you are during the summer months.
I'm taking a group of classic cars to France next May to tour the WW1 sites. We don't bother with technical back up, we just sling a few spares in the boot and make sure we have European Recovery; haven't left one behind yet...!
Unless you've a specific reason, why go as far as the south of France? There are plenty of places to visit further north; that way you'll spend less time getting there and more time enjoying yourselves - the weather is pretty good wherever you are during the summer months.
I'm taking a group of classic cars to France next May to tour the WW1 sites. We don't bother with technical back up, we just sling a few spares in the boot and make sure we have European Recovery; haven't left one behind yet...!
lowdrag said:
I love France (well, I live here!) but maybe a boat trip to Spain and then a few paradors? Something I have always wanted to do.
This is a viable option, and a better chance of having good weather. I live in Spain and could help suggest destinations if that could help. I also have a friend who organizes tours on a regular basis travelling from England to Spain. Hopefully not breaking any norms by commenting this: http://www.driveespana.com/
And at the risk of hijacking the thread, there is a huge supercar event organized each year in Santander, a few hundred meters from the ferry docks in May. There will be 15-20 cars attending from the UK next year, and I've been attending for the past 6 or 7. Happy to provide more info if interested
Thanks for the suggestions! I should, perhaps, have been more clear - I'm buying it as a birthday present, but it's for my dad and his partner. If I were involved, plans would be very different - Battlefields of northern France, Le Mans for race weekend, then down to Bordeaux for some serious wine tasting and ferry back. But I'm not, so it's got to be more rounded and low-risk.
RONV said:
Hi, what make of cars has he got we travel to France twice a year and I book the hotels and plan the routes myself as we do not use motorways and drive through the towns and villages and stop off for coffee and croissant, we travel at about 40-50 MPH as we are never in a hurry and only travel 140-160 miles a day we try to arrive at our hotels around 1400hrs so we can have a look around for somewhere to eat in the evening. If you look at "Scenic Car Tours" they do lots of tours to France but sometimes they travel to far in a day for us which makes you have to travel at a faster pace.
Thanks - the 'too far in a day' bit is exactly what I'm cautious of! He's got an older Talbot that can just keep up with modern traffic, but doesn't really like it - your lovely 'tina would show it a clean pair of heels! I'm a bit worried that I'll book him (and his partner) up for a tour and they'll be in convoy with E Types or other faster machinery; 80bhp and drum brakes all round don't make for fast travel! The attraction of a tour is having some support if/when the car stops working. lowdrag said:
I love France (well, I live here!) but maybe a boat trip to Spain and then a few paradors? Something I have always wanted to do.
GT5S_1985 said:
This is a viable option, and a better chance of having good weather. I live in Spain and could help suggest destinations if that could help. I also have a friend who organizes tours on a regular basis travelling from England to Spain. Hopefully not breaking any norms by commenting this:
http://www.driveespana.com/
The big advantage of France is that they both speak a bit of french, love the place, and have a gîte there so can stop off en-route for a few days to break the journey. http://www.driveespana.com/
Another reason to visit Mulhouse http://www.citedutrain.com/?lang=en
Get on ebay and buy some old aa or michelin route maps
you may even find some of the typewritten ones which were typed on request from a member.
If you buy the early ones there will be no motorways,but he may have to find some alternate routes when he finds some old roads have been cut off or done away with.
you may even find some of the typewritten ones which were typed on request from a member.
If you buy the early ones there will be no motorways,but he may have to find some alternate routes when he finds some old roads have been cut off or done away with.
Is he interested in motorsport?
Above Le Mans was suggested, but I'd make that Classic Le Mans, but the next one is in 2018. Hundreds of classics drive there, many in groups from marque clubs or form a town or area. Some can arrange hotel accommodation for you, but your dad should ask the marque club for his cars if they do this.
If he has Triumphs, one of the best is the TSSC, but they don't do hotels, or the TR Register.
And then there is Rheims. The Rheims-Gueux road race circuit was a venue for the French F1 GP until after 1966, and saw racing until 1972. Somehow, the pits and grandstand survived, and now are cared for by Les Amis du Circuit de Gueux: http://www.amis-du-circuit-de-gueux.fr/PALMARES-HI... What remains is an extraordinary time capsule, where you can drive now public roads in the tyre tracks of the Greats from Louis Chiron, through Fangio and Hawthorne to Jackie Stewart. Other road racing circuits such as Rouen-Les Essarts where you can drive the track but none are as well-preserved.
John
Above Le Mans was suggested, but I'd make that Classic Le Mans, but the next one is in 2018. Hundreds of classics drive there, many in groups from marque clubs or form a town or area. Some can arrange hotel accommodation for you, but your dad should ask the marque club for his cars if they do this.
If he has Triumphs, one of the best is the TSSC, but they don't do hotels, or the TR Register.
And then there is Rheims. The Rheims-Gueux road race circuit was a venue for the French F1 GP until after 1966, and saw racing until 1972. Somehow, the pits and grandstand survived, and now are cared for by Les Amis du Circuit de Gueux: http://www.amis-du-circuit-de-gueux.fr/PALMARES-HI... What remains is an extraordinary time capsule, where you can drive now public roads in the tyre tracks of the Greats from Louis Chiron, through Fangio and Hawthorne to Jackie Stewart. Other road racing circuits such as Rouen-Les Essarts where you can drive the track but none are as well-preserved.
John
Scenic and Continental Car Tours are the biggest around.
If you want to compete in a Regularity Rally in France then try Classic Rally Tours who use S&CCT to organise the hotels etc.
I've used them for 17 years now. [No connection to either company apart from being a happy customer]
www.sceniccartours.com/
www.classicrallytours.com
If you want to compete in a Regularity Rally in France then try Classic Rally Tours who use S&CCT to organise the hotels etc.
I've used them for 17 years now. [No connection to either company apart from being a happy customer]
www.sceniccartours.com/
www.classicrallytours.com
I used to use Continental but you can do the same route and hotels at less than half price and book hotels through Booking.com so you can choose one with safe and secure parking in your price range and on your chosen route and most organised tours you only get the route and no rep to help you out and mixed marks so no help with spares. I have just booked the ferry for our trip in May with the French Capri Club this year it is in the Mulhouse area this will be the fifth year we have been with them for there long weekend I am just sorting out our hotels.
Edited by RONV on Friday 4th November 20:30
Take a look at the offers at the Hotel de France.
Lots of places to visit and easily spent a week chateaus, wines,
http://www.lhoteldefrance.fr/
Lots of places to visit and easily spent a week chateaus, wines,
http://www.lhoteldefrance.fr/
Just completed 6 days on the "November sun run". £750 for driver and nav inc hotels and most meals.
1400kms around south east France.
http://vintagesunrun.org
1400kms around south east France.
http://vintagesunrun.org
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