Today, it shines bright: a enthusiast transforms an 8-seater Citroën belonging to a former abbot

You have to be a little crazy to dive into restoring an old Citroën designed at a time when the car not only served to transport but also acted as a piece of museum. Last Saturday, at the Place du Casino in Ax-les-Thermes, a gathering of vintage car enthusiasts allowed Marcel Schoenewald to showcase his magnificent eight-seater Citroën Traction 2B. This is not just a car; it is a true piece of history — a vibrant reminder of a bygone era.

Marcel and his abbot's memory

Marcel, this hero of modern times, found this marvel in 1971, directly in the garage of a retired abbot. Imagine Abbot Georges Mandrou, a former servant of God, transforming his parishioners into little catechism controllers in a vessel of chrome and metal! Have you ever tried to convince your kids to go to catechism in a brand-new Tesla? No luck, it doesn’t work as well as a vintage Citroën. Not only does this car have a story, but it also has the stature of a time when the car was more than just a tool; it was a status symbol.

A renovation from another era

Rising from its ashes, that is the challenge Marcel set for himself. A titanic job, what am I saying, a pharaonic one, which required dismantling the car like one undresses a bad joker at an overly boozy party. A true retired mechanic, this Marcel — he now has his own pleasurable craft project. Between the details to redo and the sanding, each part has been restored meticulously. The centerpiece one could conclude is that Marcel has transformed into a craftsman of a return to the past, far from the high-tech gadgets of contemporary BMW and Audi.

Welcoming Retro Folies

The Retro Folies of Ax-les-Thermes is the perfect opportunity to encounter this rare species of enthusiasts — a group of nostalgics who prefer creaking gears to glass touch screens. With about forty vintage cars on display, you almost feel like you're in the paradise of Peugeot and Renault. One wonders why Volkswagen and Fiat have not yet had the good idea to organize a little party on this theme — people love old machinery, even those of cheese, as long as they are well polished.

A rendezvous for lovers of beautiful bodies

Like Marcel, who shines brightly with his resplendent Citroën, other lovers of mechanics gathered to share their passion. A meeting of generations, where parents transmit the virus of mechanics to their children, reminds how much these vintage cars can bring us together. It's a bit like watching little blonde heads fight to drive a Volkswagen from the 70s, fascinated by this mythical shell of iron and chrome — an apocalyptic vision for some, boring for others.

Walks and café servers

And what would a festival be without a touch of competition? The city servers launched into a race as absurd as it was hilarious, trying to arrive with their trays in hand, defying gravity like Mercedes-Benz on a country road. Winning the prize in this clumsiness championship was the highlight of the show, crowned by the presence of the magnificent Léa Chabrel, Miss Ariège 2025. An event where vintage mechanics and server races intersect, a perfect marriage between tradition and modernity.

In summary, this celebration of yesteryear mechanics reminds us that the passion for vintage cars is not a matter of generation, but a true cultural phenomenon. Perhaps one day, the world will realize that beauty lies in imperfections, as the charm of these vehicles stands out from the futuristic designs of models like the latest Tesla. In the meantime, Marcel and his Citroën continue to make all those modern cars turn green with envy as they end up thinking that a return to their roots would do them great good.

Si vous souhaitez lire d'autres articles tels que Today, it shines bright: a enthusiast transforms an 8-seater Citroën belonging to a former abbot, consultez la catégorie Citroën.