Serge Janouin-Benanti

The 100-Year-Old Man and His 1,000 Cars

A Great Human Adventure

Born in 1901, Robert Dumazet draws us into his passion for automobiles through his work as a mechanic. Insatiable in his desire to try out all types of cars, in his lifetime he will own more than one thousand vehicles, without ever buying a brand new one. Thanks to innumerable charming anecdotes, the protagonist of this biography offers us an insider’s view of all the legendary European, American and Japanese brands that made their mark during the 20th century.

In addition to telling the story of the evolution of the automobile industry, Robert Dumazet’s life is a great human adventure. From his clever entry into the world of automobiles to his work on the factory floor, we are able to peek into what life was really like at the beginning of the 20th century. You’ll delight in hearing the details of his encounters with men like Joffre, Hiro-Hito, Maginot, Marot, Barré, and many other picturesque figures from automotive history.

Incidentally, Robert Dumazet also shares his philosophy of life with us in this novel, and it is perhaps the secret to his longevity.

This book is written as a novel. But, for those who are curious and want to know more about the automobiles and people mentioned in the story, there is an appendix that includes, among other things, a comprehensive retrospective of the evolution of the automobile from 1901-2001.