2026 ‘Simply French’ Car Meet at Beaulieu

UTELLUS

Story and photos by Gary Axon

Unlike the wet and cold ‘Simply Italian’ car meeting at the Beaulieu National Motor Museum that we reported on here late last year, this June’s 2026 ‘Simply French’ themed edition at the same venue was a very bright, sunny and hot meet that attracted a mixed variety of French vehicles, representing France’s top trio of current car makers, but with a few older classic Gallic machines too.

Citroens dominated the late June’s ‘Simply French’ meeting with a healthy selection of 2CVs, Dyanes and Amis, accompanied by a few pioneering range-topping Traction Avant, DS, CX, XM and C6 luxury sedan models, plus a good selection of GS, BX, Xantia and later smaller hatchback derivatives. The absence of SMs and the ever-popular HY vans was a surprise, however.

Citroen’s close Peugeot sibling was mostly represented by sporting versions of its successful GTI models, present in 205, 106, 306, 207 and 208 guises, plus an impressive line-up of the short-lived RCZ coupes. A 1950s’ Peugeot 203, odd 504 pick-up-based camper and elegant Pininfarina-built 504 Cabriolet were rare but very welcome additions to the French-themed ‘Simply’ gathering at Beaulieu.

Examples of the last of the remaining French ‘big three’ (or should that be ‘grande trois’?) mainstream car makers – Renault – were also out in force, with much-cherished R4, R10 and R16 models rubbing fenders with their fellow Gallic rivals. A huge contingent of Renault Trafic and Master-based camper vans had an entire field to themselves, these being joined by rarities such as a Teihol-built R5 Rodeo ‘beach car,’ a brutal Clio V6 and desirable Renault Sport Spider.

Renault’s sporting Alpine cousin was represented by a brace of modern A110 Berlinettes, plus a A610 V6 and new A290 ‘hot hatch.’ Alpine’s contemporary competitor Matra had a trio of models (Bagheera, Murena and utilitarian Rancho) to wave the flag for the ex-Formula One and Le Mans winning marque.

Although representatives of other expired French marques such as Delage, Delahaye, Talbot and Panhard failed to make it along to Simply French, a solitary Simca (a 1970s 1301 wagon), plus a Rosengart (an unusual Austin Seven-derived LRN2 from 1938 in rare ‘Sucom’ opening rear coachwork format) were good to see, the owner of the latter enjoying the bonus of Simply French coinciding with the annual large Beaulieu Austin Seven rally, which has been held at the south coast on England museum location since 1963.

The overall People’s Choice winner of the day was a recently restored 1990 Renault 5 GT Turbo, with Renault camper vans claiming the other podium places.

We hope to return to the Beaulieu for the Simply Italian edition of this popular 2026 ‘Simply’ gathering on September 27. Fingers crossed the weather stays good…!