If a combat aircraft is what receives you, it’s better to run like hell. But not in the case of the Mirage V M5BD exposed in front of the Porte de Versailles Exhibition Center – this particular, as remarkable as frightening ex-war machine actually serves as an invitation for everybody to attend one of the biggest classic car shows and trade in the world: Salon Retromobile, held between 6th and 10th February 2013 in Paris.
Surprisingly, the airplane-theme continues inside too, right after the entrance being exposed a much more peaceful object, the Morane, Roland Garros’ plane, with which the famous tennis champion and pilot completed the first ever air crossing of the Mediterranean 100 years ago. But the aviator and sportsman’s 100 HP Bugatti Type 18 (1913) parked near the plane is a first and strong sign that the main characters of the 38th edition of Retromobile are still classic cars – more than 400 by number.
As usually the centerfold is occupied by the French manufacturers’ special exhibitions. Citroen brought a various selection of soft tops and cabriolets in 2013, including a rare Traction Avant 15-6 Cabriolet. A ‘sporty’ main theme has been chosen by Peugeot, too, exposing the marque’s landmark coupes from the electric transformable Eclipse (the “grandfather” of nowadays hard-top coupe-cabrio types) to the latest 205s celebrating the model’s 30th anniversary. Renault instead, decided to present how varied its heritage is, in this manner the French giant parades amongst others a Type MH six-wheeler (1924) designed to cross the Sahara, a large Nerva Grand Sport (1937), a Type RS01 Formula-1 race car (1978) or the Fregate presidential limousine (1957).
Besides the French, German constructors have an important part too every year, in Paris, with small but real quality stands. For example Mercedes-Benz displayed a 300SL chassis to demonstrate how complex the car is. The world’s oldest car manufacturer also paid tribute to pre-1914 sports cars, with three famous motor racing icons built by Benz: a Grand Prix racing car from 1908, the record-breaking 200 hp “Lightning Benz”, as it was known, of 1909, and a “Prince Henry” sports tourer from 1910. Moreover, a further “Prince Henry” vehicle is on display on the adjacent stand of the Louwman Museum from the Dutch city of The Hague. These two “Prince Henry” vehicles, restored in a common project, are believed to be the only Benz models still existing that took part in the Prince Henry rally of 1910.
On the other hand, Porsche fans were delighted by the unique retrospective celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 911. The Prototype T7 made its first appearance in France alongside the 911 Safari SC, a Porsche 935, the Ur-911 or a 911 2.7 RS.
Even in the lack of a manufacturer exhibition, the English classic car world has a strong presence, too, mostly due to the important dealers like Hall and Hall and Fiskens. The first one revealed an astonishing collection of racing machines, including the only rear-engined Vanwall ever built and a Lotus 49 Formula 1 car. Famous race runners, like Maserati 250F (1956), or Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa (1957) were found on the Fiskens stand.
At Salon Retromobile 2013 you could find rare treasures even in the smallest exhibition hall, occupied mostly by marque clubs, and the books, parts, miniatures and accessory vendors. Here hides a remarkable retrospective of the production of Helica cars, presented in a 1920s setting. With a propeller at the front these hybrid vehicles are halfway between a plane and a car – as a proof that plane and car industry are actually not that distant from each other.
Salon Retromobile 2013 – Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)
Lamborghini Flying Star II (coachwork Touring) – 1966
Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 B Pinin Farina Cabriolet – 1934
Benz “Prince Henri” – 1910
Renault 4CV 1063 – 1952
Vanwall Inter-Continental Formula – 1961
Renault 8 Landon – 1963
Renault F1 RS01 – 1978
Citroën DS19 Berline – 1957
Renault Alliance Cabriolet – 1986
Renault Alpine A220- 1968
Renault Alpine A110- 1971
Renault Balayeuse Type DM – 1913
Renault Balayeuse Typre DM – 1913
Ferrari 250 GTE – 1962
Renault Type MH Six-Roues – 1924
Renault Type DG „Victoria Rotschild” – 1913
Bugatti Type 23 Brescia – 1920
Bugatti Type 40 – 1928
Renault Type MH Six-Roues – 1924
Austin-Healey 100S – 1955
Mercedes-Bnez 300 SL – 1955
Bizzarrini A3/C – 1965
AC 15 HP Special – 1928
Renault Fregate Limousine – 1957
Aston Martin DB3S – 1956
Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Coupe – 1967
Renault Nerva Grand Sport – 1937
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster – 1961
Ballot 2LTS – 1928
Darmont V Junior – 1935
Lancia Fulvia 2C – 1970
Lotus 23B – 1959
BMW 328 – 1937
Bristol 406 Zagato – 1959
Renault Nerva Grand Sport – 1937
MatFord Alsace V8 – 1936
Citroën Xanthia – 1986
Austin-Healey Sprite Sebring – 1960
Citroën CX Cabriolet “Orphee” – 1983
Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America – 1955
De Dion Bouton Type IW – 1925
Facel-Vega Facel III – 1963
Citroën CG4 Roadster – 1932
Maserati 250F – 1957
Alfa Romeo “Conrero” Sport – 1953
Alfa Romeo Sprint Veloce Coupe – 1956
Citroën Traction Avant 15-6 Cabriolet – 1939
Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental – 1933
Citroën Visa Convertible – 1984
Ferry 750 Sport – 1955
Peugeot 401 Coupe “Eclipse” – 1935
Citroën Rosalie 15A – 1932
Bugatti Type 18 (1913)
Peugeit 203 Coupe – 1953
Peugeot 301D Coupe – 1936
Peugeot 601 DL Coach – 1935
Peugeot 403 Cabriolet Grand Luxe – 1958
Peugeot 203 Darl’mat Berline – 1953
Lambert Biplace – 1949
Maserati 3500 GT Superleggera – 1960
Skoda 130 RS – 1975
Delahaye 135 MS Coupe (coachwork Chapron) – 1937
Voisin C11 14CV – 1927
Allard J2 – 1950
Bentley 4 1/4 Litre Embiricos Special – 1938
Alfa Romeo Abarth Colani – 1958
Skoda 130 RS – 1975
OSCA MT4 – 1955
Bugatti Type 59 – 1933
Bugatti Type 40 – 1928
Fiat 1100 E Stanguellini Berlinetta (Bertone coachwork) – 1951
Cisitalia 202 SC Gran Sport – 1952
Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione – 1966
Lancia Aurelia B20S Speciale – 1956
Bristol 406 Zagato – 1959
Cisitalia 202 SC Gran Sport – 1952
Fiat 1100 E Stanguellini Berlinetta (Bertone coachwork) – 1951
Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America – 1955
Ferrari 212 Vignale – 1952
Abarth Carrera – 1961
Maserati 150S – 1955
Ferrari 512S – 1969
Maserati 150S – 1955
Abarth Carrera – 1961
Voisin Prototype – 1956
Benz 3HP – 1894
Benz 200 HP “Lightning Benz” – 1909
Benz 200 HP “Lightning Benz” – 1909
Benz Grand Prix – 1908
Mercedes 300 SL “Register” chassis
Ferrari 212 Inter Pinin Farina Coupe – 1952
Peugeot 304 S Coupe – 1973
Panhard X66 – 1932
Ferrari 340/375 MM Berlinetta Competizione – 1953
Peugeot 205 XAD – 1994
Aston Martin DB 2 – 1953
Bugatti Type 35 – 1925
Skoda Formula 3 – 1964
Alfa Romeo Giulia 1600 GT Junior – 1973
Frazer-Nash Le Mans MKII – 1954
Triumph GT6 Mk1 – 1967
BMW-Isetta 300 – 1960
BMW 328 – 1937
Empire M31 20 HP – 1911
Jaguar XJR12 – 1990
Bugatti Type 35B “Pur Sang” – 1928
Triumph TR250 – 1968
Lotus 49 – 1969
Jaguar D-Type – 1955
Cord 810 Sportsman – 1936
Porsche 956 – 1982
Matra-Simca M650 – 1970
Lagonda V12 Rapide – 1939
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster – 1960
Talbot-Lago T23 Chapron Cabriolet – 1939
Ferrari 340/375 MM Berlinetta Competizione – 1953
Rolls-Royce Phantom III – 1936
Ferrari 250 GT Lusso – 1963
Ferrari 312 PB – 1972
Ferrari 512 Berlinetta Boxer Le Mans – 1982
Rene Bonnet Djet – 1962
Aston Martin DB 2/4 MK II – 1956
Citroën DS19 Cabriolet – 1964
Citroën B12 Torpedo – 1925
Unic Type L1 – 1923
Martini F3 MK21B – 1978
Renault Alpine A220 – 1969
Renault Alpine A220 – 1969
Delahaye 135 M Torpedo Sport (coachwork Figoni & Falaschi) – 1937
Delage D6-70 – 1937
Porsche 962C Le Mans – 1989
Aston Martin DB5 – 1964
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