Won’t You Join The Classic Vehicle Parade Through Paris?

Like many major cities across Europe, France’s capital has made headlines in recent years over its environmental-based rulings restricting the use of older vehicles within city limits. That’s not to say Parisians don’t appreciate the classics, though, as the long-running Winter Traversée de Paris event proves. Set to take place on Sunday, January 12, 2025, the 25th edition of this hugely popular rally will welcome an impressive 700 teams driving and riding in and on vehicles that are at least 30 years old, following a circa-30-kilometer (roughly 19-mile) route through Paris.

The Winter Traversée is organized by the Vincennes en Anciennes, France’s largest multi-marque club that is also responsible for a warm-weather Summer Traversée de Paris, of which the 18th edition will take place this upcoming July 20th. What makes these events such fun is the incredible variety of vehicles you’ll encounter; everything from cars, trucks, and 4x4s to buses, motorcycles, mopeds, and tractors can be seen slowly working their way around the city. The parade – the biggest historic-motoring event in all of France- will set out from the southern forecourt of the medieval Château de Vincennes and finish back at this location or, optionally, at the restaurant of the Hippodrome de Vincennes horse track.

The route of the Winter Traversée will be kept secret until that morning, which will add to the anticipation and enjoyment of the participants and unsuspecting spectators. So far, vehicles dating back to the early 1920s have signed on, and you can expect to see around 100 different marques represented from all around the world.

Unusually, there will be a blessing of the vehicles by a priest at Montmartre, as well as a drumming performance by Les P’tits Poulbots, and it will be possible to pre-book a seat to ride along on a 1930s Renault bus; children under 12 ride free, and adults will pay 10€. The parade kicks off at 8:00 a.m.

You don’t have to belong to Vincennes en Anciennes to participate in the Winter Traversée de Paris, but you do have to register before January 7. For more details, visit the club website.

Partick Gomez, president of Vincennes en Anciennes, says, “What makes us happy during the Traversées de Paris is that it can be seen that we are organizing an event which is undisputedly popular. The public’s support is total: faces light up and thumbs go up as the vehicles pass by. Some people become nostalgic when thinking of their youth spent in these cars, others just discover machines from another time. The Traversée de Paris in historic vehicles is intergenerational, and it honors our vehicular heritage.”

The post Won’t You Join The Classic Vehicle Parade Through Paris? appeared first on The Online Automotive Marketplace.