14 April 2008

Les Anciennes Fleuries - Hotchkiss


As you can see, this gathering of ancient cars is very popular in Menton. I've not heard of a display of cars and flowers before. Have you? These three Hotchkiss cars show different choices in flower arrangements.

Hotchkiss cars were made between 1903 and 1955 by the French company Hotchkiss & Cie in Saint-Denis, Paris - a company started by an American engineer, Benjamin B.Hotchkiss from Connecticut. The badge for the marque showed a pair of crossed cannons, evoking the company's earlier history as an arms manufacturer during the Franco-Prussian war.

26 comments:

  1. ah, yes. The Hotchkiss machine gun. Never knew they made cars in France. Bet you are psd with the colour and clarity on this one. Nice photo.

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  2. The Hotchkiss machine gun. Yes. Heard of them. Think we even used them but it was a long, long time ago. I had no idea they made cars.

    I like both of these cars and their deep rich colors. I had not seen cars decorated for anything using flowers before. It must be a French tradition.

    Thanks for your kind comments on my new post about macros.

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  3. c'est rare de revoir des voitures de marque Hotchkiss. Elles sont superbes , surtout avec toutes ces fleurs. c'est vraiment une superbe idée cette manifestation, du rêve.

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  4. These are great photos. I hadn't heard of these cars before, and love the sleek style! The flowers are a nice touch as well. Great work!

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  5. Magnifiques voitures et magnifiques clichés !!
    Féérique...

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  6. Wow, they look great. I love the first one. The pair sitting in the car with the hats looks romantic, looks like they just got married.

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  7. wow, these cars are beautiful.
    The license plates are enormous!

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  8. I just drool over your car shots, Jilly. The Hotchkiss is such a rare specimen; only the 2nd time I've seen one.

    You certainly know how to celebrate everything in Menton !!

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  9. Oooooooooohhhhhhh

    Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh

    Awwwwwwwwwwwww

    I want one of those!!!!!

    :)

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  10. Wow beautiful cars and the flower arrangements are lovely. :)

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  11. Moi qui ne m'intéresse que peu au voiture (4 roues et un volant) je suis fan des vieilles voitures

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  12. Ohhh...how pretty! The affair resembles the Easter Bonnet Parade in NYC.

    Love fresh flowers and old cars.

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  14. It would be nice if this "cars and flowers" idea blossomed elsewhere( apologises for the pun.)Cute cars, beayutiful flowers and lovely images.

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  15. Your shots are always very lovely

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  16. From the portal it looked like we are attending a wedding with the "just married" car decorations...
    Have not heard of Hotchkiss cars before, but would not mind one ;-)

    Super-duper photos!

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  17. Nice to see some cars again. A marque I've not heard of before.

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  18. What a lovely display...beautiful, classic cars and stunning floral arrangements!

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  19. We have car displays and flower shows but not together. But why not they are both beautiful . Nice photo.

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  20. The flowers are just soooo amazing! And these cars are awesome. So shiny and looking like they are brand new. I wonder if we have any of these cars in Jamaica. Hmm. :)

    Question: I notice on the cars that there is a little "F" on the fenders. What does that stand for?

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  21. Jilly, I learned something from your post today. I'd never heard of Hotchkiss autos before. They are so lovely in and of themselves. The flowers remind me of cars adorned for the Rose Parade on New Years morning in Pasadena, CA. That creamy car in the last shot appeals to me so much. All those curves and that scalloped fender. Has to be the most beautiful example I've ever seen of a classic car. Ann's question about the F on the fender, I wonder if that stands for France? Thanks for a stunning post today Jilly!
    -Kim
    Seattle Daily Photo

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  22. Kim, Sure you are right - it's F for France. The older version of our stickers!

    So pleased everyone is enjoying this little series. I was bowled over by the beauty of it all.

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  23. Kim and Jilly,
    Guess what? Curiosity got the better of me yesterday and I went googling French License plates. Would you believe that there are whole websites just for this?

    This one has pictures of every possible French License plate.

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  24. What, no Bandit Trans Am? :)

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  25. Fantastic photos! Too bad they don't make them anymore; how beautiful!!

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  26. oh how wonderful! I have also never seen the two together.... bet the fanatical car owners were like mother hens so their babies would not get scratched by vases/twigs!

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