Photos and story by Graham Gauld
Avignon in the south of France is a medieval city famous for the fact that Pope Clement VI actually bought the town in 1348 from its Italian owner, Joanna the first of Naples. Clement then made Avignon the home of the next six Popes of the Roman Catholic Church.
OK that’s your ancient history lesson is over for the day. Now onto more recent history. Avignon also hosted its annual Historic Car festival which is an impressive event that covers no fewer than 13 individual halls on the Exhibition site. It makes Retromobile with its two halls almost look small! Mind you, most of the halls contain small stands selling everything from head gaskets for 1952 Simcas to every known 1/43rd scale motor truck car or racing car ever built. It is a kind of fans-fest on steroids.