Troughgate, à la Française
The French equivalent of Auto Express - of all things - has blown the whistle on what it considers Gallic abuse of the public purse, noting that ministers are availing themselves of some rather nice (by current French standards (1)) vehicles. Libé has the details, as Auto Plus, not unreasonably, wants you to buy the mag and is not putting much on its website.
Anyway, Brice Hortefeux, Minister of the Interior is intent on getting his mitts on two Citroen C6s, with leather seats (choc horreur) at some €100,000. This would look to be the price for two of them, so let's say circa £43,000 a pop. So far so 'so what'. Our ministers cruise around in Jags and the like, but Brice wants them to replace 2007 models. Brice says it is just the one, by the way. Further, there is an outbreak of Renault Vel Satises (Vel Sati?) to be seen in and around the Ministry of Defence and the Assemblée nationale where the parking fees are pretty savage, apparently.
Auto Express should perhaps note that the ruling elite are at least buying French - I imagine social death would be forthcoming if they had Mercs - and compared to the Italian, British and German vehicle industries, haut de gamme, car-wise is not really that luxe, frankly.
(1) This is the only vehicle that any and all self-respecting French pols should be waving to the populace from:
Ok, this heart stopper would be permissible too:
Anyway, Brice Hortefeux, Minister of the Interior is intent on getting his mitts on two Citroen C6s, with leather seats (choc horreur) at some €100,000. This would look to be the price for two of them, so let's say circa £43,000 a pop. So far so 'so what'. Our ministers cruise around in Jags and the like, but Brice wants them to replace 2007 models. Brice says it is just the one, by the way. Further, there is an outbreak of Renault Vel Satises (Vel Sati?) to be seen in and around the Ministry of Defence and the Assemblée nationale where the parking fees are pretty savage, apparently.
Auto Express should perhaps note that the ruling elite are at least buying French - I imagine social death would be forthcoming if they had Mercs - and compared to the Italian, British and German vehicle industries, haut de gamme, car-wise is not really that luxe, frankly.
(1) This is the only vehicle that any and all self-respecting French pols should be waving to the populace from:
Ok, this heart stopper would be permissible too:
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on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 2:21 pm.
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At least it keeps it Gallic.
Wot? No Panhard Tigre?
FT - I have been in one of those, True story.
Courage, mon brave, courage!
Exchange visit as a teenager, c.1968... the family I stayed with had one. Remarkable vehicle. The looks remind me irresistably these days of Jah Jah Binks. It must have had some effect on me because I stick with a twin cylinder boxer engine to this day (but only on my bike ;-) ).
Ah the glory days of French cars that looked different from standard euro boxes....
Facel Vega. Huge V8, appalling drum brakes and minimal road-holding. Used to watch them being rapidly driven up and down Priests Hill next to Runnymede. Rumour had it that one, driven somewhat exuberantly downhill, had simply been unable to stop, crossed the Windsor Road, obliterated the roadside railings and ended up in the Thames. Stirling Moss had one - God knows why.
Still it gave us small boys something to 'Cor' over. All that chrome and glass and leather.
Unsworth - alas form does not always mesh felicitously with function....
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