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By Vintage Standard to Paris!
No need to tell you where the Standard V4 is parked!
Late in 2008,over a few beers, a plan was
hatched for Len Barr and myself to drive my 1927 Standard V4 tourer to
Paris in January this year to attend the Retromobile show. The day of
departure finally dawned with Len unfortunately unable to go due to food
poisoning, so I set off from Dover with another friend on board.
We had a quick and very smooth crossing to
Calais where we stayed for the first night and partook of some of the
local beverages. Early Friday morning we set off in darkness and fog, and
pointed the radiator in the direction of Paris. I decided it would be
safer to use the autoroute until it got light, but we ended up
following it all the way to the Peripherique on the north of Paris,
pausing occasionally to break the icicles off my nose. Driving a vintage
car on the Peripherique on a Friday afternoon proved to be an
entertaining experience. I drove around to the Porte de Versailles exit,
went up the slip road, and turned the wrong round a traffic island into
five lanes of oncoming traffic-fortunately some of the bemused Parisians
had a sense of humour and let me carry on across the junction. We soon
found our hotel for the next two nights, and deposited the Standard in
their underground car park, before going to sample the local
hospitality.
Saturday was spent at a rather
disappointing Retromobile show, which had far less exhibitors than in
previous years-maybe just a temporary blip due to the current financial
situation? After the show we met up with Club Member Alfred Breth from
Vienna who is restoring the only known Standard V2. A pleasant evening was
spent over a meal and the odd drink or three.
On Sunday morning we followed Alfred in
his hire car as he kindly led us to the Eiffel Tower and then the Champs
Elysees to take photos etc. After being surrounded by Japanese tourists
we headed north to pick up the autoroute. After about 100 miles I turned
off the main roads and took to the excellent country roads in the
direction of our overnight stop at the interesting town of Albert in the
Somme area. With the onset of heavy rain this was the first time we put
the roof up. On our departure the next morning the Standard showed its
displeasure at being left outside overnight in freezing weather, by
refusing to start until we pushed it down a steep hill.
We headed for Calais via some minor roads
and then the autoroute, arriving in good time for our ferry back to
Dover. All too soon our adventure was over.
Steve Smeltzer
Bristol
Hope that Len feels better now. You can meet Steve, and the intrepid Standard V4 at the Standard International Rally. Book now. Phil Homer Another familiar Parisian landmark is below
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