It’s quite a miracle they managed the lengthy trip on the motorway. Often overlooked when passing them on the left lane, these Twingos have managed to secure many loyal owners over the last three decades!
Mellissa Bartoli is the president of Génération Twingo and the organiser of the event. Speaking to AFP, she says she does not see herself in any other vehicle than a Twingo, which she has been driving since the first model came out in 1993. She adds: “She has a good face”, with her round headlights and apparent smile.
Another attendee is Jean-Michel Sauvage, who drove across the country from Brittany with his partner Fabienne. Both proudly show off their Twingo transformed into an apple-green pick-up, stretched out by 40 centimetres. “It’s a car that took me almost a year to transform. Being a car modifier specialist is not my profession, but I did what I could, I took my time,” he explains. They have four other Twingos at home.
Desperate to continue driving their beloved vehicle, many say they could convert their Twingos to electric versions if that were the only solution given new environmental standards.
When the Twingo was first released in 1993, many said it resembled a frog, a nickname that stuck with it. So one attendee, Michael, customised his Twingo in such way it resembles the amphibian...even slipping fake frogs into the headlights. Hop in!
The highlight of the show, especially for visitors, took place shortly before 3pm, when professional stunt driver Pascal Dragotto gave a drag racing demonstration. Fire and smoke bellowed from the rear of the car - way louder than any airplane at the aerodrome on a regular day.
An elderly lady, who came with a sign on her little Twingo looking for potential buyers, was met with frowns: “No, you have to keep it!”, bystanders told her. There would be plenty of enthusiasts to look after it.
