Philippe H. Defechereux

When Citroëns Invade New York

May 9, 2022 By pete

Festive caravan of vintage French autos going round Columbus Circle. The “Bastille Day” Celebration in NYC!

From the VeloceToday Archives, May 2017

The One Day Every Year When French Unicorns Run Free in New York City Streets

To certain onlookers, they may briefly evoke unicorns, except that their outer surface is often quite colorful and their one horn is inside the car. To hear most New Yorkers who catch a good glimpse, they look more like UFOs on wheels. But not to the numerous French car aficionados, expats or tourists on a visit from France. For them the strange vehicles are quite familiar and a propitious apparition to behold.

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Greenwich Concours, Lancia Style

November 15, 2021 By pete

Story and photos by Philippe Defechereux

This was no ordinary Greenwich Concours. In fact, it was a historic event. Bruce and Genia Wennerstrom had established the Concours in their ideal Connecticut town since June 1996. June 2020 should have marked its 25th anniversary Concours, now managed by two of their children, but had to be cancelled due to the Pandemic. During that interval, the Hagerty Group, specialized in providing insurance for vintage cars owners, bought the Concours outright from the Wennerstrom family and the event was scheduled for late October, 2021. Luckily the autumn weather was reasonably clement throughout. [Read more…] about Greenwich Concours, Lancia Style

Le “Gang des Tractions” – The Saga of Pierre Loutrel

March 12, 2019 By pete

By Philippe Defechereux

Early in the year 1946, the famed Traction Avant fully captured the French public’s attention for almost the entire year. Though this time in a most unlikely role starring a rather horrifying supporting actor.

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The Devil is in the Details

October 31, 2017 By pete

Story and color photos by Philippe H. Defechereux

Speed demons of America, beware! You are about to be left in the dust!

This deceptively cute little egg-shaped machine, which just landed on U.S. shores at summer’s end, can hold its own against much more powerful cars, including exotics, on any race track our great country offers for trained racing drivers. The two words “race track” in the preceding sentence offer you the only good news: it won’t shame your speeding illusions on public roads, as it is FIA-equipped and approved, and not street-legal. It’s a pure-bred racer. [Read more…] about The Devil is in the Details