Exhibitors drove from as far away as Hampshire and Essex to Olympia House Antiques to take part in the event which replaced the town’s centre’s Motorfest. The annual Motorfest, which has brought 80,000 people to the market place in the past, was cancelled this year and in 2020 to prevent the spread of Covid.
Adrian Ashton, organiser of Chesterfield Motorfest French Car Day, said: “The day was about not letting people down that were going to come to the Motorfest.
"There were a good variety of cars and some lovely vehicles in a show of motoring history.
"The day was about showing how cars will alter in the next few years; we had a little Renault and a bigger Alpine to show the cheapest and most expensive electric cars.”
Competitions for classic, retro (80s cars) and future cars were held with the best in show award going to a Citreon from the 1950s.
The winners were presented with trophies by Mick Ward, who has been displaying his collection of vehicles, including a Simca rally car, in Chesterfield market place on Mondays for the past three years.
Eighty French vehicles were on show at the event on Sunday which followed an American car show at Olympia House Antiques on the previous weekend.
Adrian said that the popular Motorfest, which he co-organises with Bev Thomas, will be back next year but was unable to say at this stage where it will be held.
4. French car show
An award for the owner of this beautiful Alpine marque. Photo: NIck Rhodes