17. Aurélien LETHEUX - the MyLittleRedCar column in AUTOHEROES #028

Imagine the Normandy countryside, its paths bordered by fields with short, phosphorescent green hedges. In the middle of this landscape, which has withstood centuries and the drizzle, lies my childhood home, calm and secluded. A very large play area where only one occasional noise spoils the picture-postcard scene: the sound of the Piwi 50 moped driven by my brother, pulling the "home go-kart" that I try to tame on the long paths of the property. A madcap race under the surprisingly serene and amused gaze of Mom.

In this setting, there is also Dad's Alpine A110. I used to tinker with it alongside him as soon as I could tell the difference between a 10mm and a 12mm wrench.

That's the magic of childhood.

At that time, most of my friends played with Majorette cars. I preferred to play with Dad's Dinky Toys. The Renault 8 Gordini was always the favorite on my makeshift racetracks. I could spend hours chasing it around before finally admitting victory. It will hold a special place in my heart throughout my life.

A few years later, in my early teens, my classmates were obsessed with mopeds and scooters. This bored me, and despite my young age, I wanted a car, and nothing mattered more to me than a Renault 8. After some tough negotiations, I managed to convince my parents to buy me a 1968 Renault 8 Major with only 50,000 km on the clock! The joy of my fourteenth year! I drove it along the 500 meters of paved road that separated our house from the main road. I quickly "Gordinized" it, changing its brown color to a beautiful French blue paint job adorned with white stripes, adding a sportier dashboard, wider rims... I spent hours on it. That's when I truly tasted that unique flavor of dedication and hard work born of passion.

I decided to make it my career, and after a long, varied academic path—first in mechanics, then in painting, bodywork, and fiberglass fabrication—I specialized in restoring classic cars. At 24, I opened my own garage in my small village in Normandy, exactly ten years after receiving my first Renault 8. By chance, my first major project was the restoration of an R8 Gordini. You can imagine how much heart I poured into that restoration! It's what allowed my business to establish itself in this community of enthusiasts.

My aim isn't to dazzle with flashy displays, but to make the car unforgettable and, above all, worthy of the nostalgia it evokes. My passion has thus become my profession, and at a time when the "Parcoursup" algorithm decides the future of young people, I wonder if my children will still have this chance to fulfill their vocation. I will pass on my miniature R8 Gordini to them as a symbol of perseverance and hard work, as a guarantee of success and happiness—the happiness of living one's passion every day.

Aurélien LETHEUX for MyLittleRedCar