Rent a Classic Car, Nice
15 June 2015
Words: Andrew Birbeck IMAGE: Rent a Classic Car
When someone loves their business you know in an instant: a look, their pattern of speech, certain signifiers that run beyond a simple money-making concern. Fabrice le Roy is one such person. His combination of enthusiasm and easy Gallic charm effortlessly win you over.
A little over five years ago Fabrice and his beautiful wife Linda had a ‘eureka’ moment. The pair, who share a passion for classic cars, had recently moved to the Côte d’Azur, bringing with them a stunning Porsche 356 Speedster and a Lotus 7. “A friend asked if he could borrow the Porsche for his wedding,” explains Fabrice. “Of course I was thrilled. When Linda and I saw the photographs, heard their stories, and realised what a wonderful time they’d had we just knew it could make a fantastic business. It was that simple.”
I ask Fabrice what makes classic motoring so special and he replies with a smile, “It’s not just about the cars; it’s not just nostalgia either. The cars reflect a period of incredible creativity from the 1950s through to the 1970s. It was a time of great music, film, architecture and art, as well as design, of course. I see cars as one of the highest expressions of that particular era.”
It’s clear that Fabrice and Linda have tapped into a passion shared by many, as the business has grown at an extraordinary rate, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy for him to pick a favourite in the incredible collection, now numbering more than 30. “I can’t choose,” Fabrice says with a shrug.
“We love them all. But, we do have a Citroën DS Convertible Chapron that we’re particularly keen on. There were only 200 ever made. Actually, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt drove it in their latest movie, By The Sea. When shooting finished they offered to buy it from us but it’s not for sale. To me it’s the epitome of the lost élégance à la Française.’
rentaclassiccar.com
Local Knowledge
If you’re in the Côte d’Azur…
Drive on the Corniche, then tour the F1 circuit in Monaco
To eat like a local…
Head to the mountains
For unseen Nice...
Try the Negresco, halfway between a hotel and a museum and packed with art – a place like nowhere else
My all-time favourite car is…
Usually the next one we buy. Right now that’s an Aston Martin DBS6 Volante (The Persuaders/James Bond)
The best advice I can give is…
Drive your business with passion