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I’ve heard of Jeep’s and muscle cars lining up for 4th of July parades. And I’ve even heard of Italian car clubs in the U.S. meeting to celebrate Columbus Day. But this is a new one for me: French cars parading through New York City for Bastille Day.

Fête nationale française (French National Day) is a celebration held on July 14th every year. It is much like the USA’s 4th of July. It commemorates the day in 1879 that French revolutionists stormed the Bastille, an armory, fortress, and prison in the middle of Paris that was loyal to the King of France. The yearly celebration is also known as “Bastille Day.” But it also commemorates a less bloody day: on the one-year anniversary of the storming of Bastille (1790), the French people officially unified as a democracy.

On the 14th of July, French citizens and francophiles all over the world gather to celebrate Bastille Day. And New York City is no exception. One of my favorite aspects of the celebration was a parade of French cars.

2024 Bastille Day parade in New York City

Common French car brands include Peugeot, Renault, and Citroën. Over the years, they have produced some charming and quirky vehicles. So parades of French cars are always a joy.

This year’s New York City parade included a lovely old Citroēn van, classic Renault sports cars, luxurious Traction Avants, futuristic Citroën DS cars, and of course many deux chevauxes. That’s the Citroën “2CV” which was nicknamed for its two taxable horsepower and is a sort of French VW Beetle.

Citroën 2CVs are relatively inexpensive as classic cars go, but feature fabulous Art Deco era styling. So their owners tend to be an interesting, diverse group. The Citroën club is one of the main forces driving the annual Bastille day French car parade.

Next, learn how the Tour de France stage ratings might have been inspired by a 2CV’s gearing, or see the New York Times’ coverage of the Bastille Day car parade in the video below:

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.