Four years of ALEPOC: the review of a year rich in encounters

Leaves fall one after another, the air cools, and our countryside is adorned with a light white veil in the early morning. Winter sets in, and the desire to stay indoors with a good hot chocolate is felt. For some, it is also the moment when their French classic cars enter hibernation, while for others, it's time to enjoy the pleasures of often weak heating and the whims of carburetor adjustments. This same passion for vintage French automobiles has led us to meet you throughout the year. At the end of November, ALEPOC officially celebrated its four years of existence (to read: Three years of passion: ALEPOC's anniversaryFor four years now, we have been striving to offer you quality customer service and spare parts for classic cars. This new milestone marks another year gone by, a year that has been full of events. Wrap yourself in your most beautiful blanket or settle comfortably by your fireplace to a story shaped by encounters.

Numerous gatherings of vintage vehicles

As every year, the event season begins with the Rétromobile show in Paris, which always offers a rich display of exceptional cars. It is also an opportunity to reconnect with clubs for the new year and to discover the exhibitions of our national manufacturers. Renault celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Twingo, while Citroën presented an entirely white stand, alongside the Deux-Chevaux chariot concept from Asterix and Obelix. At Peugeot, the 400 series was highlighted with the arrival of the Peugeot 408. (to read: Retromobile 2023: in search of the favorite)

With the arrival of sunny days, gatherings of classic cars are multiplying, much to our delight. This year, we kicked off the festivities with the D-Day gathering of Saint Gaudens, which gathered more than 800 vintage vehicles throughout the city. A true popular festival that allowed us to discover many classic French cars.

In May, do as you please. This expression means for us to see old cars on the road, perhaps after using one of our spare parts. We took advantage of the Ascension holiday to go to the 18th Grand Gathering of Simca in Gujan-Mestras. A beautiful getaway organized by friends of the Simca Club of France. The day of the walk allowed us to have warm encounters aboard Simca sparkling. (to read: 18th gathering Simca : the 60th anniversary of the 1300/1500)

Discover spare parts for vintage models Simca

On the way back, we made a detour to Pau for the Classic Grand Prix. This mini Monaco leaves one dreaming with its magical scenery and narrow streets, creating an impression of increased speed. Roger, our mascot, had performed several parade laps with celebrities aboard his Sizaire-Naudin. Among the exhibitors, we had extensive discussions with the local club, which showcased a fine array of vehicles owned by the members of the Golden Age Club.

The month of June was marked by a large gathering of popular automobiles, the Gazoline Festival. In the exceptional setting of the Lamotte-Beuvron Federal Equestrian Park, more than 3000 vehicles gathered. With the abundance of Peugeot, , Renault, , Citroën and Simca old present, we didn't know where to turn. This event allowed us to meet our customers from central France and to gain a bit more recognition. The festival concluded beautifully with the meeting of two prominent figures in the classic automobile world: the journalist and television host François Alain, and the speaker as well as journalist, Igor Biétry. (To read: The Gazoline Festival: A Vacation with a Retro Touch)

Before the summer break, we went to meet with the Retro Car Club Passion in Hérault for their first major event. As the main partner of the First Traffic Jam on the N9 In Clermont-l'Hérault, we had the honor of meeting the famous co-pilot. Daniel Elena, came to hold a signing session at our booth. The warm atmosphere and dynamic team leave no doubt about the success of the upcoming events. (to read: First Traffic Jam on the N9 in Clermont-l'Hérault with Daniel Elena)

Traffic jams on the roads signal the start of vacation. As a preview of the summer break, we went to the Landes to discover the 8th Auto Retrofollies of Tartas organized by Didier Stuck. Under the pines, many vintage cars were on display, with an edition dedicated to the Peugeot ancient, offering a Peugeot 205 to win.

After traveling many roads in France, a well-deserved break was necessary before we found ourselves in our beloved department, Gers, for the 10th anniversary of an event that has become essential: the Classic Festival of Nogaro. A record edition that allowed us to talk with one of our new partners this year, the Top Garage Classic network, which listed us among the spare parts distributors. For those who may not know, Top Garage Classic is the first multi-brand maintenance network dedicated to classic vehicles.

Meeting professionals and individuals

After this circuit getaway, we met one last time at the grand gathering of classic cars during the Epoqu'Auto Show in Lyon. This year, we have seen things on a larger scale to welcome you in better conditions. With an increased area and a new location in front of the auctions, we were able to share the different aspects more easily expertise of our partners. Like last year (to read: The unmissable event: the Epoqu’auto show), we shared the booth with Ludevic of theStar Service, who is accompanying us in the development of a 3D printed spare parts offering. It is a long-term endeavor that requires time to conceptualize the part, test the materials, and initiate manufacturing as close to the source as possible.

At the other end of the stand were the talented Bousquet brothers. his brother focuses on bodywork and upholstery. Together, they form a perfect team, restoring classic cars to their former glory with precision and passion. Cédric is an expert in bodywork.. They are accompanied by Stéphane's wife, who works on some parts of the interior upholstery. Alongside these two legendary cars, a Renault 4 in its original state stood on our stand. Let's dive into the past for a moment. At the dawn of the year 1979, The 4L was Simone's first car., Roger's stepdaughter. This small car, a symbol of a bygone era, has traveled miles of memories and family adventures. The 4l becomes for many households the companion of memorable adventures. The scenic drives, family getaways, and even the first driving lessons, a whole chapter of life revolves around this icon of the 70s and 80s. Today the Renault 4 It is experiencing a true revival among younger generations, as we observed at the Epoqu’Auto show in Lyon. Its sleek design resonates today with a new generation seeking vintage and authenticity. ALEPOC, a supplier of engine parts dedicated to the 4L, helps keep these small mechanical marvels alive. The extremely simple mechanics mean that Many enthusiasts maintain their small cars themselves.

Spare parts for Renault 4

With over 95,000 visitors this year (+12%), many of you have come to see us. Whether you are already a client or a potential client, it is always a pleasure to put a face to our interactions and hear your positive feedback. Those who visited our stand were able to leave with a Souvenir photo taken by a selfie booth in front of the 4tl, but also with one of the lots from our special contest game organized for the trade show. Several oil cans, personalized fire extinguishers, and gift cards were up for grabs, with two prize draws: Saturday and Sunday. Plenty of goodies were available for everyone, young and old. Our partner Igol has given us the pleasure of providing some of them to us. Igol contributes to the preservation of vintage vehicles through their HERITAGE range of lubricants, which encapsulates more than 70 years of expertise.

By the way, feel free to send us photos of our stickers in action. ;)

It was also an opportunity to meet some suppliers and professional clients. We had a lengthy conversation with theEnzo's Workshop located in Aveyron, specialized in the high-end restoration of vintage vehicles. A talented person who warmly thanked us for our promptness in processing orders.

Epoqu’Auto 2023 Show: The Summary

The exhibition was once again rich in meetings, exchanges, and of course, exhibits, with this year featuring a superb retrospective dedicated to Peugeot. Upon entering, several concepts welcomed the visitors, including the unique prototype of Peugeot 505 convertible (read: Peugeot 504 coupé: the commoner in an evening dress) and the Peugeot 404 Diesel Record, having set numerous records on the Montlhéry circuit. Then, a long series of racing vehicles stretched out, from the Peugeot 404 and 504 Coupé having proven their reliability during African raids, up to the extraordinary Peugeot 205 and Peugeot 405 T16 of the Dakar piloted by the greatest drivers of their time. How can we not mention the Peugeot 405 Pikes Peak who immortalized Ari Vatanen by blocking the sun with his arm, thus entering into legend.

Discover our spare parts for PeugeotOf the time

In the central hall, the evolution of automobiles Peugeot was staged thanks to theAdventure Peugeot. Superb specimens like a Peugeot 604 GTI or even the only one Peugeot 203 Cabriolet Darl'Mat were displayed. Demonstrating the particular attachment of Argentinians to sedans Peugeot, a very rare Peugeot 404 Argentine was presented next to a beautiful Peugeot 404 family (read Take a break at the wheel of a Peugeot : the history of family cars).

Other rare models were also on display in the rest of the show, such as the unique Peugeot 203 Dubreuil coupe made in 1950 based on a 203 convertible sedan. Not far from there, a magnificent Peugeot 203 Darl'Mat sedan was present.

On the side of the old ones Citroën, one could discover a very rare DS Chapron "The Dandy", as well as a rare Citroën DS race prototype. The authentic Citroën Type H from the series Louis la Brocante was also present.

Spare parts for old Citroën 

Regarding the Renault At the time, numerous gems were showcased thanks to the presence of various clubs. Notably, a very beautiful... Renault 15 of 1972 proudly displaying the logo Renault Kent prohibited. The Gordini club's stand featured three small sporty cars: a Renault Dauphine Gordini, a Renault 8 Gordini and a Renault 12 Gordini. On the competition side, one of the Renault 20 participants in the Paris Dakar were highlighted.

See the spare parts for Renault collection

To conclude this overview, a quick glance at the visitor parking lot with vintage vehicles was necessary. Many cars braved the early November rain to showcase their beautiful bodies. Peugeot 205 Rallye, , Simca 1100, , Citroën DS, , Renault 30 V6, , Peugeot 504, Renault 16 and Renault 17, , Renault 8 Major, Peugeot 204, , Citroën Customer Experience, etc., there was something for everyone's tastes and preferences.

We leave you here with a few photos. The entire ALEPOC team wishes you a wonderful holiday season. See you next year to begin a new fourth year, which we hope will be just as rich in events and meetings. We can never say it enough, but thank you a thousand times for your support and feedback.

See you next year,