The Next Generation: Frenchman Fabien Houdayer

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Growing up in a family with a passion for classic cars is one thing, enjoying a ride in a winter rally with a 1903 Clément is quite another. It was during a cold Rally Fagnes Hivernales in February in Belgium that we first met Fabien Houdayer — our editor in his one-cylinder 1909 car, father and son Houdayer in a sturdy 1903 car. A memory that brings back a smile.

Recently, we spoke again with 38-year-old Fabien and he told us with great pleasure that he would like to follow his passion and work in the classic car sector. We would therefore like to ask you to think of him if you have a (commercial) job available. Here is Fabien in his own words:

"Vintage cars have been part of my life since I can remember. In the 1960s my grandfather started collecting PreWarCars in the Paris region and this was the family environment into which I was born. My childhood was filled with rallies, shows, the smell of grease and petrol and the joy of discovering a forgotten car in the back of a garage or a barn. I knew the production dates of some cars better than the dates we were taught at school!

"After almost 20 years as a mechanic in a motorbike business, the time is now right to turn this passion into a full-time profession. As a 38-year-old , I would particularly like to make this part (PreWarCars) of the car collecting world more accessible to my contemporaries. For me, the transmission of knowledge is the cornerstone to arousing and maintaining the interest of my and younger generations in order to perpetuate this heritage. I have a few ideas on how to take this professional turn, but I remain open to any proposal.

"The world of car collecting has changed in recent years, with people naturally turning to vehicles that remind them of a family memory. We are more often looking for the car of our parents or grandparents, rather than that of our great-grandfather, whom we did not necessarily know. In my opinion, the pre-war period is therefore in danger of being neglected if the upcoming generations aren't inspired to contribute to the ongoing preservation and use of these magnificent vehicles.

"Through this passion, I have discovered a great interest in the history of vehicles. It is important for me to pay homage through historical research to the men who once owned these cars and to those who have preserved them over the years. To this end, I regularly  visit the Departmental Archives whose records often reveal a crucial piece of information. This research offers another dimension beyond the vintage car itself — that of giving me more of an understanding of the different aspects (political, industrial etc) of a society during a particular period. As has been said before, you have to know the past to understand the present.

"My garage nowadays has more motorbikes than cars, but I am very drawn to the world of ancestors and veterans and I still dream about a De Dion Bouton, a Grégoire or an endearing Le Zèbre. Cyclecars, and in particular trikes, bring me a lot of joy — they're lively, noisy, they leak, they smoke and they break down: what more could you ask for?"

If you think you can help Fabien to follow his passion, please leave a comment below or email the PreWarCar.com team at [email protected] and we will put you in touch with him.

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