Retromobile excels at thematic exhibitions featuring exciting specimens from collectors and museums that honour a brand, a person, a historic event, a country, or an era. Thematic exhibitions add that special flair that turns second-hand trade shows into classic car events, but Retromobile plays in a different league altogether.
Building on this strong reputation, the organisers enjoyed great success in committing partner museums to showcase the mechanical treasures they preserve. Their participation brought exhibits closer to new audiences and made the show more diverse, spanning subjects from military history to the golden age of rail, and from prestigious automobiles to the legendary Group B rally era. After the BMW Art Cars and Bugattis in all shapes and sizes, we continue with the remaining topics.
Retromobile honoured the golden age of rallying with a dozen WRC legends
This year’s Retromobile dedicated a substantial space in pavilion 7.2, hosting a unique display recalling the golden age of world rallying from the 1960s to the 1990s. The cars include forgotten classics like the Ford Cortina Lotus MK1, as well as iconic legends like the Lancia Stratos 2400cc, Peugeot 205 Turbo 16, and Toyota Celica GT-4 ST165.
The blue Alpine recalls the year 1973, when the FIA created the first manufacturer championship under the World Rally Championship. The first manufacturer’s title was won by Alpine Renault with its tiny A110 1800.
Lancia picked up the glove in 1974, with one of the most iconic WRC cars of all time, the purpose-built Lancia Stratos.
In 1974, the Stratos left its competitors in the dust and reigned supreme in the WRC until 1976. It eventually faded, replaced by the Fiat 131 Abarth, and Fiat won the world championship two years in a row.
The exhibition also extensively covered the infamous Group B era. In 1979, the FIA officially introduced a drivers’ classification and a championship title, and introduced Groups A and B for rally racing, the latter reserved for the WRC championship as of 1982.
Whereas Group A could be considered an evolution of rally racing (with cars derived from production vehicles with a production run of at least 5,000 units and power ranging from 200 to 300 horsepower), Group B had no technical limits, with a mere 200-unit homologation requirement.
The exhibition illustrates this golden age with a selection of the era’s most iconic cars, including arch rivals Lancia Rally 037 and Audi Quattro, as well as a Peugeot 205 and a Renault 5.
Retromobile honoured the life and work of Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen is an absolute legend of the golden era of cinema. He was arguably one of the most charismatic characters of the silver screen, leaving behind an exceptional filmography. He was also known for his passion for sports cars, motorcycles and racing. He once said, I’m not sure whether I’m an actor who races or a racer who acts. In his early years, the king of cool supplemented his acting income with prizes won at motorcycle races, and in the iconic movie about Le Mans, he could combine both his passions. Retromobile dedicated an exciting pop-up garage to explore this passion in Pavilion 7.2, showcasing the iconic models that marked the actor’s life.
The exhibits feature a dozen motorcycles, including the 1961 Triumph TR6 from The Great Escape, a 1971 Husqvarna 400 Cross, and a 1971 Honda 250 SRM.
The compact stage also showcased three breathtaking cars, and the obvious choice was the 1968 Mustang Fastback immortalised by the greatest classic car chase scene from the film Bullitt. The Green Mustang was accompanied by the villain car of the movie, a Dodge Charger driven by the hitman.
The 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso also belonged to Steve McQueen, though we would welcome that car at any stage…
Richard Mille honoured Ferrari’s racing legacy
Richard Mille, the renowned Swiss watchmaker, has been a recurring exhibitor at Retromobile for many years. With strong ties to the automotive world, their stage usually honoured their racing partner (previously McLaren and, for a few years, Ferrari), and assembled a truly spectacular collection of Ferraris.
On the classic side, we spotted a 1970 Ferrari 512S, competing in the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 1000km of Monza.
Alongside it, the Ferrari 275P raced at Le Mans in 1963 and 1964.
Its neighbour is a familiar sight: the Ferrari 250 LM made headlines last year when it sold for nearly €35 million at the RM Sotheby’s Retromobile auction.
On the other side of the stand, the Ferrari 312 PB was runner-up in the 1973 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Right next to a contemporary Ferrari, a 499P from 2025, third in the 93rd edition of Le Mans.
The Teuf-Teuf Club showcased old cars even by Retromobile standards
With this club, pre-war is guaranteed, as pretty much all members were from the pre-war era, in fact, even from before World War I.
As in previous years, they offer a truly immersive experience as they offer rides in prewar classics, such as a 1913 Vinot & Deguingand omnibus, used during the war and then rebodied after 1918 to become a hotel bus.
Military museums delivered another great show
The ground floor of Hall 7 (7.1) also hosted several museums. The Armoured Vehicle Museum of Saumur presented on its stand the LVT A1 from 1944, an amphibious assault tank in the service of American forces and a plane that crash landed (or parked in a Parisian way…).
The Armoured Vehicle Museum of Saumur houses one of the largest collections of armoured military vehicles in the world, with nearly 800 examples from different eras and nations. They are located at the outskirts of the picturesque town of Saumur, near Le Mans, and they exhibit at Retromobile every year, showcasing some massive vehicles.
This year, the Museum presented the LVT A1 amphibious tank from 1944. Used by American forces during the Second World War, the LVT A1 is an amphibious tank specifically designed for landing operations in the Pacific.
The Berliet Foundation’s heavy truck is almost an understatement on the ground floor
The Berliet Foundation is another recurring exhibitor, bringing one of its rare heavy-duty gems. Their 2019 stage stole the show in every aspect, with its massive desert truck towering over factory stages and dwarfing tanks.
For this 2026 edition, the Foundation showcased a Berliet TBO 15 M, with the usual live coverage of the 600km trip to Paris. The TBO’s engine is a 15-litre, 6-cylinder Berliet MDO diesel, delivering up to 300 hp with a turbocharger.
The French police museum illustrated that there is no point in running
The National Gendarmerie Museum is another recurring exhibitor, though this year’s stage did not enlist the same wow factor. Their stage featured two iconic Alpine A310 V6S from their collection. These cars are testaments to the Gendarmerie’s automotive heritage, and the fact that there is not much of a point in trying to run from them…
The Alpine A310 V6 – Phase 1 was used in highway patrol units, and this specimen was reclassified as a training vehicle for learning high-speed driving on the Bugatti circuit at Le Mans until the arrival of the first Peugeot 306 S16s.
The Alpine A310 V6 – Phase 2 entered into service in September 1981, and this car is the only specimen of the Phase 2 Alpine A310 in the Gendarmerie’s fleet.
Chopard adorned its watches with million-dollar decorations.
Chopard is another recurring exhibitor, summoning some really special cars to showcase their watches. This year, they exhibited a Bugatti T35 and the recently unveiled Zagato Capricorn 01, a new hypercar from the Italian design studio.
The stage is complemented with a prewar Alfa 6C 1750 Gran Sport Zagato.
The Swiss watch manufacturer also unveiled at Retromobile a new limited-edition Mille Miglia chronograph reserved for France, produced in 100 numbered pieces.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum unveiled bold plans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans race was represented by the official Museum and the race organiser, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO).The ACO stage showcased two iconic endurance race cars, each representing a different era of motorsport.
The new one is a Porsche 963 ex-Hertz Team Jota, a Hypercar prototype that recently competed in the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The older one is a 1957 Maserati 250F V12, a true icon of motorsport’s golden age.
The stage also gave a glimpse into the future M24 Motorsport Museum, scheduled to open in May 2026. Not like the current Le Mans Museum had anything to be ashamed of…
The official FIA stage summoned iconic cars from every epoch
Located in Hall 7.3, the stand showcased an exceptional selection of cars, including the only surviving Oméga-Six 1928, the Lancia Stratos, and the Mercedes-Benz CLK-LM 1998.
It will also highlight recent regulatory changes that allow Historic Championships to include cars from 1991–2000, alongside the work of the FIA International Historical Commission.
FIVA honoured the 90th anniversary of the Mercedes-Benz 540K and the 80th anniversary of Vespa
FIVA stands for Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens (International Federation of Ancient Vehicles) and is the worldwide federation of historic automobile clubs for cars at least 30 years old. FIVA’s Retromobile stage featured a Mercedes-Benz 540K, in celebration of the model’s 90th anniversary. A true icon of pre-war automotive engineering, this rare and recently restored automobile embodies the technical and aesthetic excellence at the heart of FIVA’s international mission.
The presentation is accompanied by a Vespa scooter, showcased on the occasion of the brand’s 80th anniversary, highlighting the diversity of its rolling heritage, from prestigious automobiles to symbols of popular mobility.
The Peninsula Classics best of the best award brings together the finalists of the world’s most renowned concours events
Awarded each year, the prestigious Peninsula Classics best of the best award selects the world’s most exceptional classic car from a shortlist of major worldwide concours event winners. This year’s nominees were:
1926 Rolls-Royce Phantom I “Phantom of Love”, coachwork by Charles Clark & Son Ltd. Best of Show, 2025 Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace
1934 Alfa Romeo Tipo B, coachwork by the Factory. Best of Show, 2025 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este
1936 Mercedes-Benz 500K Spezial Roadster, coachwork by Sindelfingen. Best of Show, 2025 Salon Privé
1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B, coachwork by Stabilimenti Farina. Best of Show, 2025 Amelia Concours d’Élégance
1951 Bentley Mark VI Cresta II, coachwork by Facel Metallon. Best of Show, 2025 Goodwood Cartier Style et Luxe Concours d’Élégance
1954 Ferrari 375 MM, coachwork by Ghia. Best of Show, 2025 Cavallino Classic
1996 Ferrari F50 GT, coachwork by Pininfarina. Best of Show, 2025 The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering.
Out of this illustrious selection, the organisers announced the stunning 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B as the winner of this year’s Award. Following the award ceremony, the winning car was showcased at Retromobile.
