France: Several World War II-era American military vehicles are on display in the quiet countryside of Isere, as collector Jacques Lascoumes opens his vast estate to the public. The rusting relics, collected over decades by his father, are now drawing interest from vintage machinery lovers and historians alike.Jacques explains that his father, a trained mechanic, saw the potential in surplus military vehicles after WWII. He said, "He had actually noticed that the surplus from the First World War had been sold until the start of the Second WW. In 1945, he was about twenty years old. He himself is a trained mechanic and he decides to get involved because he notices that the equipment is particularly well designed. And so he gets involved in it."As demand shifted from professional users to passionate collectors, attention to detail became key. He said, "For tanks in particular, it is where people become the most demanding. They want bolts to have period markings and are willing to spend ten minutes restoring a screw, because it is from that time. It's passion. There is no difference, if you will, in method between a philatelist and a tank collector. In both cases, it's the detail. As I usually say, it's the edge of the stamp that makes the difference."Among the enthusiasts is Remi Nater, who owns a 1942 Dodge. He said, "I'm looking into precisely where it would have landed. So I'm waiting. I've sent the paperwork, I'm waiting to find out.""When I bought it, it was in bad condition. So I fixed it up more or less, in my own way," he added. Belgian engine manufacturer Andrea Costa reflects on the historical weight. He said, "These machines were made for war, 80 years ago. And when I see this, the first thing that comes to my mind is that I want to restore all these vehicles." (with AFP inputs)
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00:00In France, history comes alive through rusted steel and fading paint.
00:12Hundreds of World War II era American military vehicles, once built for war,
00:17now sit on display at the estate of Jacquez Lascumes.
00:21He saw that the First World War II was sold until the beginning of the Second World War II.
00:29In 1945, he was a 20-year-old mechanic.
00:33He decided to launch it because he saw that the material is particularly well-built.
00:41These relics were collected over decades by Jacquez's father,
00:46a trained mechanic who began restoring surplus vehicles
00:50shortly after the war ended.
00:53He thought it would work for 20 years.
00:56After 20 years, he asked him how long it would work.
00:58He said it would work for 10 years.
01:00Then in 1975, after 30 years, he didn't say anything.
01:03He didn't know how long it would work.
01:06Finally, we were at 80 years.
01:08Since 1980, the collectors were interested in this material
01:12and that professional users have disappeared in the early 2000s.
01:19He saw how well the equipment was designed and believed it would have a lasting value.
01:25What he thought would last 20 years is still alive 80 years later.
01:32As time passed, the interest in these vehicles shifted from professional users
01:37to passionate collectors.
01:39For tank collectors, it is all about the details.
01:43Even spending 10 minutes to restore a single screw.
01:47It's like stamp collecting.
01:49Every small piece matters.
01:52The vehicles, for cars in particular, are the most demanding.
01:57They want markings on the machinery.
02:00They are ready for 10 minutes to renovate a new vehicle.
02:05Because it is an old vehicle.
02:08It's the passion.
02:10There is no difference between a philatelist and a collector of cars.
02:16In the two cases, it's the details.
02:19Remy Netter, a proud owner of a 1943 Dodge vehicle, is tracing its history.
02:25He is waiting to learn where it may have landed during the war.
02:29The vehicle was in bad shape when he bought it.
02:32So, he restored it in his own way.
02:35He is in 1943.
02:36So, I'm trying to see where he had departed.
02:41I'm waiting for the papers.
02:45I'm waiting for you to know.
02:46When I bought it, it was already in bad shape.
02:52So, I put it in my way.
02:57André Costa, an engine manufacturer from Belgium,
03:03feels the emotional weight of the collection.
03:07There is a whole story behind it.
03:09There are people who made these vehicles.
03:14They were made for the war, for 80 years.
03:21And when I see it, the first thing that comes to my mind,
03:24is that I want to re-tap all these vehicles.
03:28All these vehicles have lived in this period,
03:35which is a pretty terrible period.
03:40And from now on, in 2025, we think,
03:45is it possible that it will happen again?
03:49We are in a pretty terrible period.
03:53He sees not just machines, but stories from a terrible time.
03:58And today, in 2025, he wonders if such times could return.