Worship at the Church of Citroen.

carchaeologist

Also in this months Practical classics. Lots of french fancies here...

Motor mad Nigel Wild is religious about his cars. So much so he keeps his collection of classic Citroëns in a CHURCH!

Star of the show is the original yellow 2CV6 from the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only.

The 51-year-old's obsession with the French marque began in the 1960s, fired by his late father's love of all things mechanical.

His first buy was a written-off 2CV which he still owns.

Now Nigel, who lives in north Leeds, has a fleet of more than 30 motors including six DSs – for many, the iconic Citroën.

He said: "My parents had always admired the DS. People either thought they were wonderful or were scared of them.

"In 1972 they bought a D Special Saloon, which was a smaller DS, for £1,600. It had all the toys: power steering; hydropneumatic suspension, and swivelling headlights.

"Around the same time I bought the 2CV which I put back on the road in 1975.

"I'd started collecting unusual things in the late 1960s. It began with scooters, micro cars and bubble cars.

"But this was when I really got into Citroëns."

As his collection grew the question was where to store them.

Nigel found his solution when a disused church came up for sale in the late 1980s.

Its Yorkshire location is secret.

But the architectural consultant took the YEP on a guided tour. From the outside it looks like any boarded up Yorkshire stone building, grass sprouting from the guttering and grilles across the windows.

Walk through the wooden double doors and you are inside an Aladdin's Cave of motor memorabilia.

Downstairs the cars are crammed bumper to bumper, door handle to door handle in an area once filled with pews.

Upstairs the gallery, which no longer has any railings, is floor to ceiling with cars parts. Nigel said: "Most people's collections are sequential. Mine's cumulative.

"The collection falls into three categories: cars we have run in the family; micro cars; and some other cars which are being kept for preservation.

"The bulk are Citroëns but other, funny things creep in as well."

This includes an Argentinean 2CV6 copy, the IES, from 1989 and thought to be unique.

Nigel, who is a director of the Citroën Car Club Ltd, hopes his motors will one day form part of a museum display.

In the meantime the only child who still lives with his mother intends to carry on collecting.

He said: "For some unknown reason, probably to do with the cars, I never got married.

"The British don't have the monopoly on eccentricity – the world is full of nutters who love cars. People have more money now to play with silly motors."

Video should be here..
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/video.aspx?VideoPath=LEED/citroenmanbond_jp_settings.wmv&VideoID=30375&ArticleID=4878490

1948Wolseley

Amen, brother! Interesting that that church is now used for Goddess worship. ...Goddess?
...DS??

I'll get my coat.

carchaeologist

In the meantime the only child who still lives with his mother intends to carry on collecting.

He said: "For some unknown reason, probably to do with the cars, I never got married.

Er...ya think! It would take a special kind of lady to put up with that kind of competiton!

Also,how old is his mother!!?
And,how much do you pay to buy a Church... *searches DoneDeal frantically*

corktina

Citroen is not a Religion, its listed as a dangerous cult in 30 states....:D

like the DS / Goddess bit... hands up all those wwho dont understand it!

Max_Damage

OCD comes to mind...

carchaeologist

Most of us would do the same if we had the money/time/lack of a controlling female influence....:p

2cv

corktina wrote: »

Citroen is not a Religion, its listed as a dangerous cult if 30 states....:D

like the DS / Goddess bit... hands up all those wwho dont understand it!

Déesse is the french word for godess, and it's pronounced as DS

corktina

Hands up all those who DON'T understand it I said...now we all do...:rolleyes:

2cv

corktina wrote: »

Hands up all those who DON'T understand it I said...now we all do...:rolleyes:

Sorry

corktina

thats all right...just go stand in the corner for a bit and then we can all be friends again:D

2cv

corktina wrote: »

thats all right...just go stand in the corner for a bit and then we can all be friends again:D

right...

carchaeologist

Lets not have any intercounty fighting now lads!!

kasper

what time is sunday service ? i think it just needs oil and filter this time

1948Wolseley

^HAhahahahahaha!!!!