French automakers haven’t sold cars in the US for a few decades now. In automotive lingo, CItroën, Peugeot and Renault are forbidden fruit in the 50 states. So the only option to owning a French marque is importing a classic. French automotive design has a distinctive flair that mostly carries through to today. Sometimes eccentric styling combined with quirky functionality, there’s little better example than the most famous of French cars, the Citroën 2CV.

Taking part in NYC’s annual midtown Bastille Day celebration were nearly two dozen vintage Citroëns (and a lone Peugeot) for an afternoon car rally. The fleet was composed of mostly 2CVs with a couple DS sedans and a single Mehari. Arriving a bit late was a stately 1954 Citroen Traction Avant 11B followed by a cool blue 70s Dyane. The most modern of the group was a 2010s Peogeot RCZ with the distinctive double bubble canopy and pricey molded rear window. All totaled, it was a small collection but always interesting to see what lurks in the garages surrounding the NY/NJ area.

Photos and Text: Dave Pinter