Par
Paul Halbedel
Published on Nov 4, 2024 at 7:43 p.m.
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They all have a pretty exceptional story. Because of the personalities to whom they belonged or the use that was theirs at the beginning of the last century. Monday November 11, five vehicles directly linked to the History of France will be exhibited in the small town of Caragoudes, in Haute-Garonne.
Ces legendary cars will be parked in front of the town hall. The general public will be able to admire them from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., on the sidelines of the commemoration of the Armistice of 1918 organized in the morning, at 11:30 a.m., at the commune’s war memorial.
The car attached to the service of General Henri Gouraud
The cars that will be exhibited belong to a couple of collectors, Alain and Juliette. “We proposed it to the mayor, Mr. Claretout of friendship for the commune of Caragoudes,” they specify.
Three of the five vehicles that will be on display that day belonged to French generals having played an important role during the Great War. “First of all, there is a unique model of Peugeot 146 which dates from 1913 and was attached to the service of General Henri Gouraud during the war. It was exhibited at the Reims automobile museum for a long time,” underlines Alain.
Marshal Joffre’s personal vehicle
Visitors to this open-air exhibition will also be able to discover a Delaunay Belleville de 1913 which was the personal vehicle of the Marshal Joseph Joffre when he came to his native town of Rivesaltes. “It was more precisely his wife’s vehicle since the registration document was in the name of Madame la Maréchale Joffre,” specify the current owners of the vehicle.
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“This vehicle had been sold to its driver and mechanic who knew the vehicle particularly well,” inform Alain and Juliette. He then joined the Pont-L’Évêque automobile museum in Calvados before the collector couple bought it.
General Gallieni’s car
Third automobile that it will be possible to admire in Caragoudes on November 11: a Sizaire and Naudin of 1907 which belonged to General Joseph Gallieni.
“He had acquired it for a very specific purpose, since he used it to carry out his electoral campaign which allowed him to be elected in Comminges,” indicates the collector.
La Sizaire and Naudin with whom General Joseph Gallieni went on an electoral campaign in Comminges. (©Paul Halbedel – Voix du Midi Lauragais)
A Taxi of the Marne
To complete this exhibition, the public will also be able to discover one of the Parisian Renault brand taxis requisitioned by the French Army to be sent to the front during the First World War.
« Ce Marne Taxi of 1913 belonged to a collector from Saint-Lizier who had restored it,” underlines Alain.
A minister’s vehicle during World War II
Finally, the last vehicle that it will be possible to see is a car from the manufacturer Hotchkiss dating from 1939.
“This car was in the service of a minister during the Second World War. But we are not sure of the name of this one, because there were eight that were built at that time to be made available to ministers,” notes the automobile enthusiast.
Rare objects to discover during this exhibition
Note that objects linked to the two wars will be discovered on the occasion of this exhibition of vehicles as a periscope used in the trenches. Several period costumes will also be presented and carried by municipal councilors of the commune.
In front of the vehicles, there will also be information panels and documents which will allow them to better understand the history of these exceptional automobiles and thus to return to the time when they were rolling.
Practical information
Exhibition to discover on Monday November 11 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in front of Caragoudes town hall.
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