What is a Youngtimer car ?

Before becoming a classic car in the strict sense of the term, i.e. once the 30-year mark has passed the first registration, cars that are at least 20 years old are considered youngtimers. These models, kept in perfect condition by their owner and usually completely original, are very attractive today.

These cars retrace the automotive history of the 80s and 90s, the one that rocked our youth or our childhood. Many classic car enthusiasts take care of these models and maintain them as well as classic cars or new cars.

To preserve this automotive heritage, the so-called youngtimer models were restored to their original condition, apart from the engine or bodywork preparation offered at the time by car manufacturers such as Zender for the Renault 11 Turbo or Danielson and Peugeot Talbot Sport (PTS) for the development of the 505 Turbo of 200 horsepower in the 80s.

Some have suffered the horrors of tuning, which was fashionable in the early 2000s, and original parts are often no longer available from manufacturers. It sometimes becomes very complicated to replace even a gear knob or a bumper.

A need is born into a company: Youngtimers Classic

Youngtimers Classic is an original idea by Vincent PASCAL. The idea was born when he wanted to restore a Peugeot 205 GTI. Faced with the lack of new parts available from the manufacturer, he decided to head to the used parts market to find the necessary parts. But, quickly, he realised that it was difficult to find certain elements of the bodywork and the interior. This is how he came up with the idea of remanufacturing some parts himself with silicone molds and a 3D printer.

But the task is arduous, the finish is not at the level of the original pieces. They spend long hours on each of them starting over and then sanding to get a proper finish. He shares his creations on social networks. This led to a craze for these references of remanufactured parts that could not be found new. Many people ask him if he can produce more and sell them.

One thing leading to another, he created his micro business in 2016 and launched the production of a few references. There is a real demand, the number of parts produced is constantly increasing. The time has come to take the next step. In 2019, he founded SARL Youngtimers Classic and approached companies specializing in plastic injection to produce his parts with a much higher finesse without the need to spend long hours on each one to adjust them.

A gold mine to restore its youngtimer

Truly passionate about the cars of our youth and more particularly those of French manufacturers such as Renault, Peugeot and Citroën, the company is expanding its catalog week after week. Production adapts to demand, trying to provide as many references as possible for the most popular models.

Thus, today the company is able to supply different body and interior trim elements while offering a manufacturing quality and a rendering as close as possible to that originally fitted in our cars. A specialist in French cars from the 80s and 90s, its catalogue currently includes nearly 500 different references.

And to serve as many people as possible, the company has a colossal stock of nearly 30,000 pieces ready to be shipped to the four corners of the world, by simple order. While the adventure began with a single person, the company continues to grow and hires its first employee in 2021 in order to maintain production and shipping rates in order to satisfy its customers as soon as possible.

At Youngtimers Classic, French women are in the spotlight

It is possible to order different parts for the most emblematic models that have since become youngtimers. From the Renault 5 Alpine to the Supercinq GT Turbo, including the 205 GTI and CTI, not to mention the generation of the first Renault Clio with the 16S and Williams versions as well as the Renault 21 2-litre Turbo, Youngtimers Classic has many references to restore its mythical cars of a generation.

But given the craze for classic cars of the 80/90 generations and not only on the sportiest versions, Youngtimers Classic also offers parts for other finishes such as the 205 Roland Garros, 205 Lacoste, 205 Indiana, 205 CJ or the 205 Rallye. It is also possible to find seat upholstery for Renault 4 or Renault 5 TL of the first generation.

The Youngtimers Classic catalogue includes part numbers such as:

·       Headlight lights and optics,

·       Plastic clips and fastening clips,

·       Buttons for electric controls,

·       Steering wheel center,

·       Gear knob,

·       Gear lever sleeve,

·       Foam seats,

·       Seat upholstery,

·       Door panels,

·       Trunk mats,

·       Interior carpet,

·       Counter cap,

·       Empty pocket,

·       Mirror cover,

·       Backshelf Support,

·       Dashboard Coin Recycler,

·       Body stickers,

·       Monogram,

·       Grille badge,

·       Custos,

·       Trunk cover,

·       Rocker panels,

·       Wing extension,

·       Grille,

·       Wheel Center,

·       Bumpers,

·       Metal bumper edging,

·       Engine hoses,

·       Distribution cache,

·       etc.

And if you prefer less common models, Youngtimers Classic also offers references for Renault 8 Gordini, Citroën AX GT or GTI, Citroën Visa Chrono, Citroën ZX 2.0 16v, Peugeot 205 Turbo Diesel or Peugeot 504 Coupé or Peugeot 104.

The company has joined forces with specialists such as a saddler for the remanufacture of seat upholstery, similar to the original fabrics, and seat foams, plastics companies for the manufacture of plastic parts as well as companies specialising in vinyl printing for the reproduction of original stickers or in the manufacture of metal elements such as the front panels or bumper edging of the Peugeot 205 GTI.

On the Youngtimers Classic website, you will also find engine parts such as head gasket, air filter, spark plug well seals, accessory belt and timing belt, exhaust manifold gasket or brake hoses.

You can also find, in the Youngtimers Classic online catalogue, parts specific to the Volkswagen Golf 1 and Golf 2 such as Golf GTI 1800 type monograms or rocker panels for Golf 2 as well as body gaskets to replace the one on the tailgate of your Golf 1.

State-of-the-art technologies for quality reproductions

The founder of the company has surrounded himself with qualified professionals in his adventure to offer a quality service to his customers. Using plastics processing to produce its parts using aluminum molds into which the plastic is injected, each part manufactured is the result of a long preparation and prototyping process.

Always on the lookout for original pieces in perfect condition to start the reproduction, each reference requires long hours of research to find the most perfect copy possible. Then comes the time for 3D rendering by a 3D scanner capable of scanning any object with exceptional precision.

Prototypes are then made using filament printers and resin printers to make the molds that will have to be reworked to obtain a rendering as close as possible to the original part. Once these operations have been carried out, an aluminium mould is made that allows the plastic injection and mass production of each reference.

Each of the references offered by Youngtimers Classic requires a significant financial investment as well as many hours of work to obtain a qualitative rendering that meets the expectations of passionate customers who place orders.

And the same is true for other types of parts. The most accurate reproduction possible of the vinyl screen prints adorning the sides of the special versions, such as the decorative stripes over the side sills of the Supercinq GT Turbo, or the cutouts of the seat trims precisely adjusted to bring life back to a car worn out by the years, requires meticulous work that can only be carried out by a car enthusiast.