Highlights of France’s premier classic car show

Rétromobile 2019 is characteristically eclectic

The wonderful Rétromobile opened today in the French capital at the Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles, and we’ve had a sneak preview of some of the treats on show.

The cream of the British dealers are once again out in force, rivalling the French manufacturer stands for wow-factor, while as ever at this fantastic show there are plenty of weird and wonderful delights to keep you interested.

Such as? Well, how about this incredible display of 18 Chapron-bodied Citroëns? Or the incredible 50-tonne Berliet truck, which required a similarly gargantuan effort simply to get it into the exhibition halls? In short, there’s a wealth of fascinating sights on offer.

Click or swipe through the pictures to view our highlights from the show.

100 years of Citroën

As you might expect, the centenary of home brand Citroën is getting quite a fanfare, with a bewildering array of models from the marque’s history. We were particularly drawn to this line of concept cars, headed by the innovative 1956 C10 ‘Coccinelle’.

1971 Citroën SM Le Mylord

Citroën is best known for its innovative designs, but the company has also been responsible for some absolute stunners in its time.

The Maserati-engined SM remains a favourite among marque aficionados, and this rare 1971 ‘Le Mylord’ cabriolet is one of a number of Chapron-bodied Citroëns at the show. 

Owned by Philippe Beugin, the Mylord is one of five survivors and was brought along by L’Euro SM Club.

1919 Citroën Type A

The ‘Origins’ display takes visitors right back to the beginnings of André Citroën’s eponymous marque, with a 10HP Type A leading the line of early models – appropriately, because it was the very first production car built by the Saint-Ouen firm.

Incredibly, just a year later the Double Chevron brand was building a whopping 20,000 vehicles.

All hail the mighty Miura!

This breathtaking display of Lamborghini Miuras is made even more incredible by the fact that it is Swiss-based specialist Simon Kidston’s Rétromobile debut – and indeed his first ever show stand!

The line-up is fronted by the original 1965 Turin show chassis and includes not one but two hyper-rare SVJ ‘Jota’ models, along with the unique Miura roadster. The stand has been put together to celebrate the forthcoming launch of Kidston’s labour-of-love book on his favourite Lamborghini.

The Italian Job revisited

2019 also marks the 50th anniversary of seminal car-chase movie The Italian Job, and Kidston’s display gave a nod to the classic crime caper with a twin for the Miura that meets a sticky end in the film’s opening sequence, presented against an Alpine backdrop. 

All that was missing was the dulcet tones of Matt Munro singing On Days Like These…

1968 Lamborghini Miura Roadster

Topping off the Kidston display is the dramatic Miura Roadster. Created by Bertone as a styling exercise, the targa-style one-off was revealed at the 1968 Brussels motor show and went on to become the ZN75 research vehicle, demonstrating the uses of zinc alloys in automotive applications.

Happily, it has since been returned to its original form, complete with sparkling metallic blue paintwork.

Jean Todt’s Miura

Lamborghini’s Polo Storico wing is also celebrating the Miura, having just completed the spectacular restoration of a red-over-gold SV for FIA president Jean Todt.

The former Ferrari F1 boss was on hand for the unveiling of his car, which went for a midnight run through the French capital ahead of its show debut.

Berliet’s magnificent T100

Towering over the other displays in the main hall, Fondation Berliet’s 15m-long, 5m-wide and 5m-tall T100 truck is the star of the show for many. The 50-tonne behemoth is powered by a 24.25-litre Cummins V12 diesel producing 700hp, and its bespoke Michelin tyres measure a vast 2.2m diameter and 1m wide.

The mighty desert lorry was originally launched in the French capital 62 years ago, and looks destined to be surrounded by selfie-seekers throughout the event.

Bédélia celebration

Little-known outside of veteran enthusiast circles, Bédélia was formed in 1908 by Robert Bourbeau and Henri Deveaux after they crashed a motorcycle and decided to try to turn it into a two-seater.

A special display at Rétromobile has gathered an amazing 14 of the 18 surviving examples of the marque, from a total of 3000 produced before the company closed in 1925.

1911 Bédélia ambulance

Perhaps the most interesting among the machines making up the world’s largest gathering of Bédélia models was this bizarre ‘ambulance car’, built to transport injured soldiers from the battlefield.

The brilliant display, which also included racers and even a pedal car, was put together by the Friends of Bédélia.

Lancia Stratos HF ‘Zero’

Lancia Club France has borrowed the famous ‘Zero’ Stratos concept car from the new Marcello Gandini exhibition at the Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile in Turin to create a show-stopping display with just one car. 

Revealed in 1970 at Turin, the Zero was designed to have the cross-section of an aircraft wing and went on to inspire the fabulous Stratos, which achieved success on both road and rally stage.

Maserati MC12 Corsa

Max Girardo & Co is another Rétromobile debutant – and once again you wouldn't know it, such is the quality of both the display and the cars on it. 

Supercars are the order of the day, with racing versions of the Ferrari Enzo-derived Maserati MC12, as here, along with a Porsche 935 and Lancia 037, plus Jaguar XJ220 and Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR.

1979 Renault RS10

In 1979, Jean-Pierra Jabouille scored Renault’s first-ever victory in Formula One with the turbocharged RS10, and the Parisian firm is celebrating that win at its home Grand Prix by presenting the very car that brought home the laurels as part of a varied display.

Renault 5 Turbo

Any excuse for a picture of a 5 Turbo – even if the model isn’t celebrating a landmark anniversary this year… we just love these bonkers turbocharged, mid-engined, 1.4-litre hatchbacks!

This lovely roadgoing version is part of the Renault Classic display, and there is a Group B rally car on a nearby club stand, too.

1967 Peugeot 204 Coupé

So many of Peugeot’s 204 and 304 models have succumbed to rust over the years that it’s easy to forget what pretty and practical little cars these front-wheel drivers were.

This suberb 1967 204 Coupé is part of the l’Aventure Peugeot museum display and is due to compete on the Tour Auto later this year.

Talbot Tagora SX

The PSA Group is best known today for its flagship Citroën and Peugeot brands, but who remembers the short-lived Talbot Tagora?

Around 20,000 were built from 1980-’83, and this superb example is a rare survivor of the range-topping Tagora SX, complete with leather trim, alloy wheels and the ‘Douvrin’ V6 that made it one of the most powerful French cars available at the time.

Lotus Esprit S2 JPS

This inspired diorama from Club Lotus France presented one of the 100 John Player Special-liveried Lotus Esprit S2s, built to commemorate the marque’s 1978 F1 World Championship, complete with a backdrop using the box art for the same car from the Matchbox Superfast version.

Fiat 500 Lucertola 6x4

The ‘Cars for sale under €25,000’ area always yields plenty of fascinating treats, and this year is no exception. We love this tiny half-track, which features an engine from the Fiat 500F, a 600 gearbox and chains sending drive to all four rear wheels.

Originally built for the use of missionaries in Africa, the restored diminutive off-roader was on offer for €22,500.

1944 Panzer IV

From a half-track vehicle to a fully tracked tank, this superbly restored Panzer is powered by a 300hp Maybach HL120 V12, giving it a top speed of 40kph, and is on loan from the Musée des Blindes in Saumur.

It was produced in greater numbers than any other German tank, with some 9000 examples built.

Fiat 500s

Back in the ‘Cars for sale under €25,000’ area, we were rather taken with this ‘tricolore’ display of Fiat 500s from dealer Future Classics, including both standard and Abarth-tweaked saloons, plus a super-cute Giardiniera estate.

Lancia Stratos extravaganza

Swiss specialist Lukas Hüni always puts together a jaw-dropping, multi-million-pound collection, and for 2019 he has focused on Lancia.

In addition to a fabulous D24, plus Aurelias, Flaminias and a pair of Group B rally machines – Delta S4 and 037 – there is this simply wonderful multi-coloured line-up of Stratos road and rally cars. 

1950 Voisin Biscooter

Part of the motorcycle-heavy ‘100 years of Gnome et Rhône’ display is this fascinating little 125cc, 150kg Biscooter, a joint project between the former aircraft engine manufacturer and French automotive innovator Gabriel Voisin. 

The Villiers-powered two-seater is on loan from Collection l’Aventure Michelin.

Mystery chassis

We were initially rather mystified by this sectioned chassis, which seems to feature parts from all manner of different vehicles (how many can you identify?).

But of course it’s actually a teaching device rather than a real car, complete with cutaway mechanicals, on show as part of the l’École des Véhicules Anciens display.

Mini at 60 – part 1

The 60th anniversary of the Mini is going to be a recurring theme this year, and Rétromobile is celebrating with the help of the Haynes International Motor Museum and the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu.

The long gallery of the Paris Expo features an amazing line-up of Mini variants, from Countryman/Traveller estates to Coopers and racers.

Mini at 60 – part 2

One of the most fascinating elements of the Mini display is this sectioned 1959 Mini, graphically demonstrating what a groundbreaker Alec Issigonis’ compact family car was upon its debut.

The Mk1 Mini-Minor is usually part of the Haynes International Motor Museum in Sparkford, Somerset.

Mini at 60 – part 3

But our favourite Mini variant, and very much one you’re only likely to find in France, is this Grand Marnier pancake pick-up… sadly only a static display, with its hotplates not in action at the show.

1939 Alfa Romeo 8C-2900B

The Artcurial auction lots provide almost another car show within the upper hall at Rétro, and its star car – alongside the Bugatti Type 51 that featured in the February issue of C&SC – is this simply gorgeous Alfa Romeo 8C-2900B Berlinetta.

A past winner at both Pebble Beach and Villa d’Este, the gorgeous Alfa is one of five examples built by Touring, and is estimated to sell for somewhere between €16m and €22m when it crosses the block on Friday.

McLaren F1 ‘longtail’

French event organiser Peter Auto always uses Rétromobile as a platform to announce its dates for the coming season, and it has revealed that the next Le Mans Classic will be from 3-5 July 2020, the 28th Tour Auto Optic 2000 will be 29 April-4 May 2019, and the Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille will be on 30 June 2019.

There was also this rather fabulous 1998 Le Mans McLaren F1 GTR ‘longtail’, which was more than enough to distract us from the free glass of bubbly…

Citroën 2CV

Finally, proving that Rétromobile isn’t always about anniversaries and serious celebrations, there’s this bizarre creation featuring an early Deux Chevaux caught in a mousetrap. And no, we’re not entirely sure why, either…