Growing up in Kent the summers were hot, Blue Peter was cool and a Burton’s Wagon Wheel was as big as a dinner plate. At least that’s how I remember it as a 10 year old in the 1970’s. Of course the history books reflect a different set of events; the winter of discontent, rampant inflation and the fuel crisis.

Isn’t it funny how we often look back with rose tinted glasses, choosing to remember the best bits and deleting the bad? It’s the same, I’ve learnt, with cars. For years I lusted over a Jaguar E-Type, my fantasy fuelled by the misty eyed recollections of previous owners who regaled tales of their ownership with more fondness than they expressed for their first born child.
 
It was hardly surprising therefore that when the opportunity arose to drive an immaculate Series II 4.2 roadster for a television series I was presenting, I jumped at the chance.

Within 400 yards of taking the helm I came face to face with the reality of old cars. Compared to new ones they don’t handle, brake or steer that well. They also tend to lack the creature comforts and safety features that we now expect, in summary old cars are great to look at but hard work to drive.

This of course is a shame, and it’s clearly not just me who thinks so, because across the channel a small French company called PGO is building a car near the Pôle Mécanique d'Alès in the South of France that solves those problems by combining retro looks with bang up to date mechanicals.

The car is the PGO Cévennes and I am now the proud ‘owner’ of one, well for a week at least after the UK importer Lifestyle Automotive dropped one off at my house to give the once over.

First glance and its obvious the Cévennes is homage to the Porsche 356 of the 1950’s. The rakish screen, the rear mounted engine, many of the details that attracted buyers to the Porsche 356 are found in the Cévennes, but closer inspection reveals more, the interior is trimmed in soft high quality leather, the tail lights display modern LED bulbs, the wheels are alloy and the interior is air conditioned.

Could the Cévennes be the answer to my motoring prayers, the perfect blend of beauty, reliability and great driving dynamics?

As with any car the only way to find out is to drive it, so grabbing the keys and snatching a scarf off the coat stand I set off, intent on taking it for a good old fashioned blatt in the country.