This time and for the first time in "Vintage Mecanic", François Allain tackles a Japanese car! Produced from 1969 to 1973, the Datsun 240Z rivaled the Porsches of the time, although it cost half as much. The pearl is rare, so François jumps at the chance to invest when he comes across one on the road to the rising sun. However, there are a lot of mechanics to review before considering putting the beautiful Japanese car back on sale. On the program: diagnosis, oil analysis, brakes, running gear and electrics to be repaired... Will this project turn out to be simple and beneficial... or a total disaster?

François Allain takes on the fastest saloon of the sixties: the Maserati Quattroporte. His example dates from 1969, the last year of its production. Problem: it only ran for a year. Since then, it has been sleeping in the back of a garage. A cascade of work is to be expected: restarting and compressing the engine, removing and changing the radiator, faulty fuel pump, complete restoration of the brakes.

François has to restore a BMW Z3, ​​which is part of the youngtimer category, in other words, young collector's cars.

In this episode, an exceptional project awaits François Allain! He has decided to tackle one of the greatest myths in the history of French automobiles: the 4L. The expert was commissioned by Renault Classic to transform a thermal 4L into an electric vehicle. But not only that! Objective: to create the first "retrofit" kit for 4L which will be presented at one of the largest motor shows in France. This kit will allow collectors to transform their 4L into an electric vehicle at an approved specialist. On the program: removal of thermal elements, creation of adjustment parts and installation of an electric motor and electronic intelligence.

American cars hold no secrets for François Allain, but this time, it's a special case. Getting a Corvette C3 Pace Car back on the road, whose special feature was to open races on circuits at the end of the 70s. François' mission? To make the owner's dream come true, to allow him to drive on a circuit and open a race like in the old days. To do this, he will have to take on a major mechanical challenge. Braking, transmission, exhaust or even turbo optimization... Everything will have to be perfectly restored in order to succeed in the challenge.

This time, François Allain is tackling a true myth, the James Bond Car par excellence: the Aston Martin DB5. Having become a legend thanks to agent 007, the expert is now tasked with a mission: to take over and complete a project that had been abandoned. On the agenda: reassembly and refitting the engine, installing the electrical harness, transmission, cooling circuit and oil circuit... In short, a mission worthy of an agent 007 for a car that costs around 850,000EUR when it is perfect. Will François find the man or the agent to tackle such a project? One thing is certain, tomorrow never dies.

It's not a flower, but a car. François Allain jumped at the chance and bought a Lotus Esprit, a model that was seen in the "James Bond" saga. Despite its beautiful design, the expert's model has several mechanical problems. On the program: distribution, brakes, running gear, carburetion, steering... The work may be more extensive than expected. Will François cover his costs? It's far from won.

François is embarking on the restoration of a lovely 1962 convertible: the Renault Floride S. His mission: to find and restore this vehicle, a symbol of French chic. The Renault Floride S will be used as a prize in a raffle in honor of the Grégory Lemarchal association. On the agenda: bringing the car up to standard by finding the right engine, restoring the side skirts, finding hardware, and repairing the upholstery and carpet.

Today in Vintage Mecanic, François Allain buys a Peugeot 309 GTI from someone who wanted to get rid of it in favor of its little sister, the 205 GTI. This vehicle, far from being a wreck, nevertheless needs a serious overhaul and a cosmetic refresh. On the program: starting problem, with a change of sensors, fluids, filters and oil. With the help of a restorer, he will also have to polish the bodywork. Inside: he will have to restore the gear surround and the central console. Will François succeed in taking up this challenge?

For the first time in "Vintage Mecanic", François Allain takes on an airplane! An N3N that was used as training at the US Naval Academy until 1961. The owner of this gem dreams of participating in an air show that takes place in three months, however the N3N's engine is far from operational. François is therefore tasked with finding the right professional to repair a 7-cylinder radial engine with a power of 225 HP and allow it to take flight within the allotted time. Will François succeed in this extraordinary challenge? It is far from won

François makes people jealous by presenting a true legend. Indeed, he is preparing to repair the 911 group 4, in addition to the competition racing version. Since this vehicle needs a refurbishment, it will first be necessary to find the professional who will be able to restore it and restore its shine. The program is busy because the expert's goal is not only to significantly improve its performance but also to put the car back on the circuit. The challenge is there because the work to be done is more than meticulous.

Today François is tackling a major challenge, an URSUS C 45 tractor. This time, his mission is not simply to restore our agricultural vehicle, he must also transform it into a road racing car. Currently in vogue, this type of transformation requires special attention: modification of the gearbox, assembly of a custom body kit without forgetting a complete overhaul of the mechanics. As you will have understood, before being able to treat himself to a trip on our beautiful country roads, François will have to roll up his sleeves and use elbow grease.

François Allain tackles the restoration of a boat: a Riva! With its slender mahogany silhouette, this model was one of the most famous boats in the Mediterranean in the 1950s. The Riva, considered the Ferrari or Rolls Royce of the seas and oceans, never ceases to make sailors dream. It is a complicated project for François Allain, because the luxury of these motorboats is pushed to its maximum and the engine is based on American cars from the 1950s from General Motors

Thanks to his network, François came across a real gem: a Fiat Dino. A flagship vehicle in automotive history, this sports car is rare and sought after. The problem: its engine smokes! And the engine on a Dino is not easy, especially when you know that it comes from the Ferrari factories. Will François succeed in putting our Italian car back on the asphalt? Our expert will have to find a restorer capable of taking up the challenge.

For this new restoration, François has set himself an XXL challenge. To restore a DUKW, a US military vehicle from the Second World War, to a state that can drive and float. To restore this behemoth, our expert will have to be as strategic as on a battlefield: restarting the engine, the transfer case is out of order, the presence of sea water in the gearbox, all the waterproofing needs to be reviewed. So to avoid a shipwreck in every sense of the word, François will have to find a restorer who will not be afraid of the size of this project, and of this machine, loaded with history.

For this new project, François Allain was entrusted with the restoration of an exceptional vehicle. A Simca Vedette Regence from 1955, the first year of its production. But it remained immobile for at least 30 years. The challenge for François: to restore luxury to this legendary model of the French brand. On the program: mechanics of all kinds, engine is blocked and not running, security system and clutch to be reviewed, brakes and exhaust line to be replaced. Small difficulty, François will have to find the missing fittings such as the logo, hubcaps and tires. What wouldn't François do for a friend?

François Allain has rarely embarked on such a colossal project. Restoring a legendary Porsche 911 type 2 Litre S Targa, starting from a carcass. Although the owner has given him a comfortable budget, the goal is to obtain a perfect car, in "competition condition". Engine, running gear, electrics, upholstery and of course bodywork, everything must be redone from scratch. We are no longer talking about restoration but about total reconstruction! Our expert will take the opportunity to discover the legendary and historic Pau Circuit! So, which restorer will have the guts to resurrect the legendary Porsche 911 2 Litre S TARGA?

François Allain and his team are tackling a titanic project by restoring a 1960s German coach from the SETRA brand, an extraordinary vehicle as well as a pioneer and leader in terms of safety and comfort. The restorers are responsible for reactivating its enormous engine and bringing the running gear, electrics, interior and bodywork back to life. The colossal task of getting this iconic vehicle, originally from Bavaria, back on the road requires a team as qualified as it is daring, led by François.

François Allain sets out to conquer a British gem, a 1968 roadster equipped with a 6-cylinder in-line engine. This sports coupe was only produced for thirteen months, which makes the TR5 rare! For this new mechanical challenge, François will encounter a major difficulty: the vehicle has not been driven for ten years and has undergone a start of restoration. Complete overhaul of the cooling circuit, restarting of the engine, making a new hood, which restorer will agree to team up with François to take on this major mechanical challenge?

In view of the release of its next electric roadster, the famous MG brand has commissioned François to make its iconic vehicle reliable and modern: the MGB. To restore the best-selling convertible in the history of the automobile, François will have to call on a seasoned and passionate restorer. As for the engine and safety system, everything will have to be dismantled and improved to allow journalists and personalities of the brand to use it safely. Repaint, change the carpet, the upholstery and add USB ports... Will François succeed in taking up this challenge?

Voted “Car of the Year” in 1978 with its famous “teardrop shape” and its huge V8 engine at the front that “roars like a Tasmanian devil”, the Porsche 928 is a pure classic that combines power and comfort... when it’s roadworthy! In this episode, the team will attempt to restore this legendary vehicle despite the many obstacles that stand in their way.

Always on the lookout for exceptional vehicles, François Allain this time managed to unearth a model as original as it was rare: a Vespa 400. Launched in 1957 by Piaggio, the famous manufacturer of scooters of the same name, the friendly compact car with a hint of the Fiat 500 still has many original parts, but these are logically very worn, even damaged. François' team therefore set to work, determined to restore and restore the nobility of this model, which was clearly in poor condition.

François Allain is tackling the restoration of the legendary 1977 Land Rover 109 Series 3 and must think outside the box to successfully complete this project. He intends to make the long version of this vehicle an unstoppable machine. Who will have enough panache and audacity to embark on the adventure? It is in the middle of a hostile environment that he faces the adventure. Mud, obstacles and cool temperatures: he has decided to get out of his comfort zone.

François is taking on a new complex challenge, this time with the mission of restoring an Aston Martin DB6 Vantage. A worthy heir to James Bond's prestigious DB5, this model, produced between 1965 and 1970, has a six-cylinder in-line engine that develops 325 horsepower. Prized by collectors, these vehicles can reach a value of several tens, even hundreds of thousands of euros for some examples. The first objective is therefore to find a car whose price remains accessible to François' wallet...

France's leading car show celebrates its 100th anniversary with the restoration of an exceptional vehicle: a 1994 McLaren Formula 1! François Allain, our car expert, took on a major challenge by agreeing to undertake the most extensive restoration in the history of Vintage Mecanic. A budget of €250,000 for an immersion into the world of F1 where the secrets kept secret by the greatest car manufacturers will finally be revealed! This is the largest sum allocated for a restoration in Vintage Mecanic. Our expert managed to find one of the only companies in the world with expertise in Formula 1 restoration! This incredible episode highlights the McLaren Formula 1 driven by Martin Brundle, 165 races under his belt, and a worthy successor to Ayrton Senna at McLaren.