French woman drives same car for 65 years

Yvonne Abgrall, 94, bought her car for 635,000 francs (around €15,000 today) in 1954, two years after getting her licence at the first try.

It is her first and, so far, only car. She has clocked up 140,000km and, despite driving every day, says she has never had an accident as she is careful.

She is often stopped by gendarmes. “They are surprised to see such an old car – they ask for the papers and my licence and then they just chat,” she said. “They are very nice but sometimes it seems I cannot go out without being stopped.”

The Peugeot 203 model was last produced in 1960. It boasts leather seats but no seatbelts.

Mrs Abgrall, who lives in the village of Norolles (Calvados), said:  “At the time I bought it, we lived within our means. So I worked and paid everything cash.”

The car has never had any issues but failed its contrôle technique (MOT) in May.

She has left her beloved car at the garage while she waits for parts to be imported so she can get back on the road again.

“There have been ups and downs but it is a decent car,” she said. She cannot imagine herself driving a modern vehicle, saying she does not like “the plastic and electronics”. 

She is now back with her favourite car, as France 2 reported here: