At 80 years old, he is presenting his centennial Citroën at the Rétros du Plateau exhibition in Neubourg

Ah, this good old France and its obsessive love for old cars from another age! While everyone is struggling to chase after the latest electric innovations — yes, those Citroëns, Peugeots, and Renauts vying to see who will be the queen of connectivity — here comes a well-preserved nonagenarian who has decided to take his century-old Citroën out of the garage to present it at the Rétros du Plateau exhibition in Neubourg. At 80 years old, he stands as the last rampart between us and the oblivion of real machines, the ones that have character, not these rolling gadgets as exciting as a modern tow truck. Get ready to be dazzled... or not.

A century-old Citroën in the flesh at Neubourg: homage or eccentricity?

Imagine this: a Citroën from 1925, the famous "Trèfle", displayed among a thousand other vintage cars. Here's a gathering that genuinely makes you want to turn back time, if only to appreciate the timeless charm of metal chevrons over the endless versions of Alpine trying to make us forget their lack of flair. Our 80-year-old veteran, who refuses to fade quietly, has chosen the Rétros du Plateau exhibition to show that you can still excite enthusiasts of Citroën and other old-school DS Automobiles. While Peugeot is busy inventing the future, he reminds us of the essentials: an engine, wheels, and a patina of history.

A nostalgic stroll away from the buzz of the electric Ford Mustang or the cheap Tesla

You might think that the crowd is flocking to see the latest models from DS Automobiles or the technical innovations from Fiat, Chrysler, or even the extravagances from Pontiac, but no. The public craves these gems where you mustn't sneeze for fear of scattering a century of dust. And this Citroën, although as agile as a cruise ship, is an invitation to remember that before the ballet of modern engines, every ride was an adventure. Rest assured, it does not make you miss the Renault 5 which, let's be honest, still generates more enthusiasm than some current models that are as pretentious as they are unreliable (check here for proof). That is the magic of retro.

After all, who wants to drive on sanitized technology when you can admire the robustness and charm of an era where each car was a slightly crazy statement? Our 80-year-old man might just be the last to refine this tradition in opposition to a sanitized automotive world, dominated by interchangeable logos, whether it's Bugatti or Lancia.

Rétros du Plateau at Neubourg: a theater of classic cars in full swing

The annual gathering in Neubourg attracts nearly a thousand classic cars each year. On the menu, a real mishmash of brands that defy time: from DS to the century-old Citroën, not to mention Alpine or the Fiat convertibles that seem to have just returned from eternal vacations. This plateau is a playground for collectors, a sanctuary where each vehicle is a painting on the canvas of automotive history, a hint less garish than the illusion of the latest connected gadgets. In this context, our Citroën veteran, with his century-old "Trèfle," stands as a hero of the past, a humble star amidst bundles of futuristic brochures.

The highlight of the show is not the loud innovations but this return to the very essence of automotive pleasure. Especially when legends from brands like Citroën rub shoulders with less heard-of curiosities like Pontiac, reminding us that the automobile has always been a wonderful romantic chaos rather than just an industry.

When you see this, it's hard not to think that even if the trend is towards ultra-connected electric vehicles, nothing replaces the patina of time and the sound of a door inherited from another century. Indeed, these past Citroëns have more to teach us about true automotive beauty than any sparkling debate about the price or consumption of the latest Renault or Peugeot.

Want to see something that truly gives a sense to "collector's car"? Don’t miss the details on the Citroën C4 edition collection 2025, a modern tribute that finally compares character and comfort without turning driving into a high-tech nightmare. Yes, it's possible, even in 2025.

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