Club Teuf-Teuf celebrates 90 years of automotive heritage

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

The Veteran Car Club of France reaches a remarkable milestone: 90 years dedicated to preserving the world’s earliest automobiles—still humming, still gleaming with polished brass. Over the past decades, I’ve had the privilege of regularly participating in their rallies and soaking up the unique atmosphere. Today, we take a deeper dive into the club’s rich history.

From Vieux Macarons to Teuf-Teuf

The roots of Club des Teuf-Teuf trace back to 1935, born from an earlier group called Les Vieux Macarons, founded in 1929 for drivers who had held their licenses for at least ten years. It didn’t take long before the mission expanded: not just to honour memories, but to protect the cars themselves. A brief stint under the name “Les Vieux Tacots” (Old Bangers) was quickly replaced with the more affectionate and dignified “Teuf-Teuf” – echoing the charming chug-chug of early engines.

The mission was visionary even then: to rescue pre-1906 cars from obscurity and to foster admiration for the heroic pioneers who built and drove them. Teuf-Teuf became France’s first club dedicated to vintage motoring and the fifth in the world—after those in Britain, South Africa, and the United States.

What makes Club Teuf-Teuf truly unique is its direct link to the founders of the motoring age. Among its early members were participants in the infamous 1903 Paris–Madrid race, car manufacturer Georges Bouton, and other automotive icons. Its first president, Hippolyte Panhard, placed fourth in the very first motor race ever held: Paris–Rouen, 1894.

That pioneering spirit endures today, with current members often descended from legendary motoring families like Michelin, Clément-Bayard, and Vinot-Deguingand.

Where some clubs blur the lines between eras, Teuf-Teuf sets a clear standard:

• Les Ancêtres: Built up to 1905
• Les Vétérans: Built from 1906 to 1918
• The 18–32 Section: Cars built up to the early modern era, around 1932

This classification preserves the essence of the early automobile—from wooden frames and oil lamps to the rise of nickel, steel, and the beginnings of mass production.

As the club enters its tenth decade, its mission remains constant: to protect, preserve, and share. Former club president Jean-Pierre Guihery le Rolland once summed it up perfectly:

“The continuation of this story lies in our hands—young and old alike—so long as we never forget what makes our association unique: the defense of the oldest automobiles.”

The next highlight on the calendar is the Rallye des Ancêtres in Picardy, taking place in the charming town of Compiègne. This special event – reserved exclusively for vehicles built up to and including 1905 – will be held on October 4–5, 2025. A perfect opportunity to relive history among fellow enthusiasts, in a region where the past is part of the landscape.

Mark your calendar – and perhaps we’ll hear your engine go teuf-teuf too!

Text by Laurens Klein

Make a comment, ask a question, give your opinion, share additional information or start a discussion by filling in the fields below.