Retromobile 2023: great vintage

Need a spare part for his old car? A vintage magazine reviewing your old or a new or out-of-print book about a model, brand or rider? Do you want to treat yourself to a slice of golden history, enrich your miniature collection, decorate a room or participate in a retrospective of an emblematic event? Or the pleasure of revisiting a bygone (soon to be) era when the car meant so much?

Anyway, you should run to Rétromobile. For five days, the Parc des Expos at Porte de Versailles was transformed into the most beautiful museum in the world. We won’t list all the mechanical nuggets available here, but all eras, all genres are represented. Proving the richness of its automotive heritage, the Paris show hosts never-before-seen models.

For several years now, as in every publication, the Musée des Blindés de Saumur presents an overview of its incredible collection. This year, visitors can admire the AMX-30 tank and the Panhard armored reconnaissance vehicle. The motorcycle world is also represented. Retromobile celebrates the centenary of Dollar, the French brand known for its Indian head logo.

This year’s Rétromobile is also a massive return of manufacturers, French and foreign traders after the 2022 edition, which was heavily affected by Covid.

There are at least eleven manufacturers: Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Catheram, Citroën, DS Automobiles, Lancia, Morgan, Peugeot, Porsche, Renault, Volkswagen. The Italian brands of the Stellantis group present their certification programs with the Alfa Romeo SZ since 1990, the Abarth 850 TC since 1961 and the Lancia 037 Group B competing in the World Rally Championship. On the side of the French brands of the Stellantis group, Citroën makes the cinema with the exhibition of the tank present in the latest work of Asterix and Obelix. Peugeot celebrates the 400 series models and shows off a development concept for the SM called the DS Michelin Prototype. As for Renault, it blows thirty candles on the iconic Twingo, which was launched in 1993 but was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October 1992. Porsche is also talking about a jubilee for the 60th anniversary of the legendary 911. The 2.7 Carrera RS version rubs shoulders with the latest generation GT3 RS and the new 911 Dakar.

For Volkswagen, it’s about supporting the launch of the iD.Buzz with the first-generation Combis. Visitors can find a good selection of vans on the footbridge leading to pavilion 2.2, where Artcurial has installed 227 cars for sale. The star is one of 32 Ferrari 250 LMs. Watchmaker Richard Mille’s stand also has a great selection of sacred models from Maranello. Formula 1, 250 GTO and 275 GTB/C as well as 512 M.

The poster is incredible with the presence of European bigwigs on the merchant side as well as auction houses. Let’s just say: it’s been a long time since we’ve seen such a riot of exceptional cars in excellent condition.

The 2023 edition of the Rétromobile finally marks the beginning of the centenary celebrations of the 24 Hours of Le Mans next June. An opportunity to remember that this saga was conceived under the breath of the Grand Palais on the occasion of the auto show that began with the success of France in 1922 – by Chenard & Walcker, Andre Lagache and René Léonard. Fourteen people then spread out. Not to mention countless class wins. Some years count double. After the hegemony of Bentley and Alfa Romeo, Bugatti and Delahaye won the Marseillaise three times between 1937 and 1939. In 1950, Louis Rosier almost single-handedly won, while his son Jean-Louis completed just two laps! The performance seems implausible today, especially considering he was stopped for half an hour to replace Talbot’s rocker arm ramp. We had to wait until the 1970s to hear the 12-cylinder Matra’s victory song three times.

Then Renault-Alpine entered the list two years before Sarthe master Jean Rondeau won behind the wheel of the car he designed. The last three successes are the work of Peugeot. The exhibition also shows that Le Mans has been a laboratory for new technologies from the beginning.

It should be noted that the National Gendarmerie is again involved and the Rétromobile is seen as a showcase for the preservation and transmission of motorized rolling heritage with the participation of a large number of players in the sector.

Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles, Paris, February 15, February 1-5. Night openings on the 1st and 3rd until 22:00. Free for children under 12 (Retromobile.fr).