Story by Philippe Defechereux
All photos by Philippe Defechereux
“Bastille Day,” which marks the official beginning of the French Revolution, is celebrated each July 14 in Paris along the Champs Elysées with great fanfare and a military parade. In the large cosmopolitan centers around the world where, often, sizeable French communities thrive, the commemoration varies according to the whims of the local French expatriate groups.
In New York City, this celebration of the French revolutionary spirit is conducted with particular audace and flair. In an event called “The Annual Bastille Day Rally and Rendez-Vous,” up to 40 vintage French cars and their owners gather up in the early morning in Grant’s Tomb Park, on Riverside Drive and 122nd Street. As the event’s key organizers are also the founders of the “Greater New York Citroën and Velosolex Club,” a majority of the cars are Citroëns, though you’ll find an occasional Peugeot or Renault.
Dyane 6 in NYC.
The Rally is planned so as to be an adventure of fraternité lasting from mid-morning to late afternoon with many strategic culinary and cultural stops all the way up and down the length of Manhattan. This annual fantasy tour is the brainchild of Howie Seligmann and Ed Merryman, who became friends in the late 1990’s while living in New Jersey not far from the big city across the river. During dinner in the spring of 1999, they discovered that they both coincidentally owned a vintage 2 CV Charleston – the last of the breed. Soon, the pair boldly decided to make a joint Sunday trip to Manhattan in their twin Citroëns, accompanied by their respective ladies. Sacrebleu, they caused a sensation! Even in front of the Metropolitan Museum on sophisticated Fifth Avenue, “People looked at us as though we were aliens in two UFOs that had landed in the middle of New York City,” relates Howie Seligmann.
2 CV Charleston from the 1980's.
Both knew quite well that impressing New Yorkers is no easy feat. So the impact they had with their two lightweight Citroëns was such that they soon began to look for other “Citroënistes” in the greater metropolitan area. They quickly found three; owners respectively of one more 2 CV, one DS 21 and one Ami 6. Looking at the calendar, they next realized that Bastille Day was on the near horizon. On the spot these enthusiasts decided to meet on that momentous date with their five French cars in the Upper West Side, then to drive around Manhattan more or less “as their esprit libertaire would guide them.” This proved both a hit and a hoot, and thus was “The Annual Bastille Day Rally and Rendez-Vous of the Greater New York Citroën and Velosolex Club” created. Velosolex is a light powered bike featuring a front-tire activating 49cc gasoline engine breathing through – you guessed it – a Solex-designed carburetor. No longer manufactured, it is prized by owners and collectors and can still be purchased in America (velosolexamerica.com).
CX 25 Prestige (1987) and DS 2.3 EFI (1973) line up in the park.
And so there we were in Grant’s Tomb Park this past Sunday, ready to witness and participate in the 13th run of this uniquely French event – yes, it was the 15th of July, but “the Sunday closest to the 14th” is always the set date. The weather was bright, if a little hot, and the large side artery of Riverside Drive around the park proved, indeed, an ideal early morning gathering point for a car meet. Soon, a gaggle of colorful 2 CVs were joined by the most iconic French car of all times, the “Traction Avant,” here a 1952 model. This héroine of pre-war film noirs, wartime Résistance exploits of the “Forces Française Libres,” and post-war gangster movies; it definitely looks the part.
“Traction Avant” 1952 shows its stuff.
Shades of 'To Catch a Thief'. The TAs were often in movies.
The famed TA was followed by the breakthrough-bodied DS, this one in its 23 version (2.3 litre engine with Electronic Fuel Injection) of 1973 vintage. Still modern-looking today, especially in this light golden metallic color. Finally, the royalty: two pearl black CX 25 Prestiges, here in North American specs, and powered by the Citroën 2.4 litre turbo engine. These were made in 1987 and 1988. At rest, they lie low to the ground, as savanna felines ready to pounce. Then, to see them rise up as the engine is started, and reach their prowling pace, it is a sight to behold for any car enthusiast. Impressionnant.
1973 DS 23 EFI with a 2.3 liter engine; the DS series was introduced in 1955 to replace the TA.
Such vision, alas, is bound to cause a bout of regretful nostalgia nowadays. To remember that “CX” is the French symbol for our Cd, or aerodynamic coefficient, and that it branded those automobiles to highlight their wind-cheating – and fuel-saving – efficiency, because they were so far ahead of their times; and to know too, that they descended from an iconic line, squired by the DS 19 of the late 1960s when such concerns were nearly exclusively Citroën’s, such thoughts spur a heavy feeling. Because there are no modern French cars today gliding along American roads, and PSA Peugeot Citroën, the current corporate embodiment of that glorious past, is even today in trouble at home. Such opportunities missed…
CX 25 Prestige..lovely but ultra-rare in the U.S.
At least, the French people of New York have kept their lively spirit and joie de vivre, and they’ve lovingly maintained the symbols and icons of the French automotive genius. For it must be remembered that it was their ancestors who invented the practical “horseless carriage,” reached into their Latin roots to give the revolutionary new self-propelled device the more elegant name “automobile;” then proceeded to invent both road and Grand Prix racing. So, nothing to be ashamed of, au contraire. Let us drive off and display the undying beauty of our automotive creativity and art for all to see in the grandest avenues of the Big Apple.
Happy celebrants in a 2 CV. Even jaded New Yorkers gawk at the 2CVs.
And so once the caravan was complete and organized by Grant’s Tomb with French flags aflutter, we were off indeed for a grand tour of Manhattan, with a number of pleasant stops to look forward to. After a brief loop around West Harlem, we descend Broadway all the way through Times Square and then to 22nd Street, where we veered towards Fifth Avenue and parked – surprisingly easily. There stood the New York flagship store of “L’Occitane,” a first class Provencal beauty and cosmetic product store chain, and one of the sponsors of the Rally. After cool refreshments were served and gift packages distributed, off we were southwards again to Washington Square, where a delicious picnic was served. Baguettes and saucissons were de rigueur, of course. Everybody’s by then ample appetite was deliciously fulfilled.
Two 2CV trail other Citroëns across Times Square.
By 2:30 pm, the caravan got going once more, this time northward to East 86th Street, just off Madison. The meeting place there was the French Institute Alliance Française, the center for French culture and education in New York. All participants were entertained with popular French music, dancing and refreshments for a wonderful and lovely two hours.
Now it was time for the final stop and back to Downtown: catching an early dinner snack at Beaumarchais, one of the event’s other of many sponsors, a Brasserie in the rough-edged but very fashionable Meatpacking District of the West Village. By then, the air by the outdoors terrace was cooler thanks to the Hudson River nearby. There was now time to relive and share the many fabulous memories of the previous hours, even though those seemed to have gone by as fast as a racing bolide at Le Mans.
2CVs in front of Beaumarchais.
Once we got home later in the evening, it was time to dream about how to stage an even grander event next year. After all, it is French revolutionary leader Danton who famously said: “de l’audace, encore de l’audace, et toujours de l’audace!”
Once the workhorse of the French farmer, the 2CV today usually is simply fun.
For additional information about the event, how to join the Club, or any of the items contained in this article, please feel free to contact Howie Seligmann directly at this email address: velosolex.america@gmail.com
© Philippe Defechereux – 2012
New York City
Great event
Dan’s CX 25 has to be among the “top 5” classiest cars ever made. More 21st century car than 20th. No car has a comparable interior, in regard to space, comfort or luxury. The leather makes the leather in any other car feel and look like faux leather
only car in same league is the Citroen SM
keep cruisin
Jay
Lovely. They should have invited our new President Hollande with his brand new “bespoke” C6 (July 14, 2012.) They may soon become two not to be repeated one-offs.
J’en ai eu une verte (2 cv). Sacrée voiture, elle passait partout et était décapotable … le vrai luxe quoi .
Je constate que tu n’as pas oublié tes racines, le capitaine Haddock, quelques mots de français et une fierté incontestable ton ego dut-il en souffrir, de tes origines, chose qui m’avait quelque peu échappé.
Bel article en tout cas.
Et quel image symbole que ces voitures françaises déboulant à Times square, au moment où PSA Peugeot-Citroën annonce fermeture d’usines et licenciements massifs.
Heureusement, la France a désormais un président qui s’y oppose. Le président américain et les Etats-Unis n’ont-ils pas sauvé la General Motors qui renoue avec le succès ?
Good luck sacré milliards de mille sabords et et viva Bianca Castafiore !
What a novel and fun idea, to stage a rally entirely within one of the biggest cities in the world! The article is delightful and conveys well the fun and comraderie of this off-beat event.
Great story. Count me in for next year’s event – even if I can’t come up with a French car…
Thank you for the photos. I wandered around the Bastille Day celebration this year but didn’t see any cars.
I did get a few pictures last year.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosbyjohnwiley/sets/72157627162948428/