French

1975 Citroën 2CV6

I still remember when I found this Citroën for the first time, hiding behind the gate in an apartment parking garage. Back then, it was quite a find: a French car, right there in my neighborhood. The fact that it was behind a gate only increased the intrigue, and when I finally caught it outside of its hiding place the next year, I was thrilled.

Fast forward six years to when I next saw it, and times had changed. By then it was just another 2CV, one of 12 I’d shot over the years, and one of six in the United States. What’s more, it became clear it wasn’t even a US-market Citroën, which I somehow hadn’t already figured out from the French license plate. I took some shots of it, because it’s still a funky French car at heart, but the thrill of discovery had waned into more of a checklist than anything else.

But it did remind me of where I’ve been, and the incredible journey I’ve had since I took that first picture almost ten years ago. Here’s to ten more.

Santa Monica, CA

Photographed September 2010, May 2011 & December 2017

1987 Peugeot 505 Liberté

1987 Peugeot 505 Liberté 1987 Peugeot 505 Liberté 1987 Peugeot 505 Liberté

The Liberté trim level was for 1987 only, supposedly commemorating the 100th anniversary of France gifting the Statue of Liberty to the United States. For unknown reasons, 505 Libertés had a different engine than the rest of the US-spec 505 line, with an ancient and wheezy 2.0L 4 that was soon to be discontinued. Oddly, the car also came without power rear windows – again, nobody really knows why.

Cheviot Hills, Los Angeles, CA

Photographed March 2013