Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[gresham flyer]

I was down in the Dordogne the last couple of weeks and always enjoy a good root around a French barn....you never know what you will find if old items are your scene.

Here are a few cars,bikes and lovely old buildings I found whilst out and about.

[gresham flyer]

The Simca was just sitting outside a local garage near a roundabout.
I find the cars down this part of France do not suffer from corrosion like here in the UK.
I went all over this car and could not find any.

The interior was in very good original condition.

I would say with a good cutting back and buffing the paintwork would be quite good.

The car perhaps runs OK.?

Anyone know the year or value of something like this.?

[gresham flyer]

This Peugeot 403 pickup truck was in amazing condition bodily. Just sun bleached paintwork,the dark ares were just surface rust,nothing to worry about..
The sills,door bottoms,chassis etc were in perfect condition....just like those rust free Californian vehicles you see.

Looking at the truck I thought if the pig carrying wooden rear was removed and a better styled pickup bed was fabricated it would make a very good vehicle.

You could either leave the rest as is or give it a repaint and chrome makeover.

Any idea of the year.?

[gresham flyer]

This Peugeot 403 pickup truck was in amazing condition bodily. Just sun bleached paintwork,the dark ares were just surface rust,nothing to worry about..
The sills,door bottoms,chassis etc were in perfect condition....just like those rust free Californian vehicles you see.

Looking at the truck I thought if the pig carrying wooden rear was removed and a better styled pickup bed was fabricated it would make a very good vehicle.

You could either leave the rest as is or give it a repaint and chrome makeover.

Any idea of the year.?

[Rick]

Good hunting! the 403 pickup does look tidy, I'd have thought it dates to late 50s or early 60s, but without checking I don't know if there was any overlap of 403 commercial production once the 404 saloon had been introduced...?

As for the Simca, looks super-solid but I doubt it'd have a huge following (ie value) in the UK sadly.

RJ
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[D4B]

The 403 pickup has the same engine (if a petrol version) as my D4B van...
It will be late 50's or early 60's I expect. I think that the original size of
the pickup area can be seen below the home made top addition, so
it could be just a case of taking the top part off. I will find you a pic of
a friends one shortly. Would like to own it

Steve

[clan chieftain]

Some great stuff there. Are you buying anything.?
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The Clan Chieftain

[D4B]

Here is one in action earlier this year:

[Rick]

There are quite a few 403s still in service in Portugal too, very handy vehicles I bet.

RJ
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[Ashley]

They were excellent, I remember driving them at th same time as Morris Oxfords in the sixties, although they only had a three speed gearbox, the engine was smoother and freer revving, the ride and handling were better and they were quieter, but rusted about the same.

[gresham flyer]

We also went back to see this car. I found it last September in a local barn.
On this last trip I met the son of the man who had a big car collection.He passed away three years ago,now the son is selling some of the cars.

We have negotiated a price and the car is mine if I want it. On my next trip in June I may well bring this back to the UK.

The Renault 4CV a very pretty and desirable car over in France and here also I believe.
The bodywork styling is so cute.

In Germany they call this car "The pie with the cream on the top"

This example is totally rust free.Just the usual surface rust through storage. A very easy and straight forward restoration. The interior is in very good original condition,the drivers seat needs some work but we found another one stored in the barn that is the same.so no major work needed in that department..

Comes with a lot of new spares also.

I find the cars are slightly more expensive over in France but the vehicles we looked at did not have any corrosion issues that would need addressing if the same car was purchased over in this country.

So in my mind a rust free project is probably worth the extra say £300-£400 they ask.

[Rick]

Very nice, another preservation rather than restoration project, a la A35?

RJ
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[gresham flyer]

As you say Rick,with this car you could get it running and leave the rest alone.
When I did the usual bodywork checks for rust,the son of the previous owner thought I was mad,"You are not in Roast Beef Land now " he said,we do not have rotten cars like you do.


The authorities do not seem to lay down salt in the winter on the roads in these parts of France,like they do in the UK.

I suppose they have the mentality that if you skid off the road you were driving too fast.!!
Good old French.

[JohnDale]

Good post Gresham, very interesting,thanks,JD.
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1958 Ford Zephyr Mk2 Convertible
1976 Ford Granada Ghia.

[welder]

I do enjoy a good rummage. Good stuff.

Ian