This is the week of Retromobile according to the usual calendar, but nothing is normal these days. Retromobile was rescheduled to the summer (2 June), and hopefully, the current confinement will be phased out by then.
In the absence of an actual show, it’s the perfect time to recall a few cherished memories from last year’s Retromobile. Egzostive covered the shows delivered by the manufacturers in most in-depth details, the astonishing stages of high-end collectors and numerous thematic exhibitions, honouring Bertone, Alfa Romeo, or Tatra.
The few remaining themes are not so much about cars. The first one is the presence of Museums. Every year many Museums assemble a delegation of artefacts to bring their artefacts closer to those who would not venture to pay them a visit. Usually, at least half a dozen museums attend, but this year, the Big Five stage was missing (obviously Beaulieu Brexited…).
The Tank Museum in Saumur always deploys a few tanks to the Retromobile. Last year, they teamed up with the UNIVEM association to exhibit two rare vehicles, the 1939 SOMUA S35 and the 1938 Laffly / Licorne V15 T artillery tractor.
The Somua (Société d’Outillage Mécanique et d’Usinage d’Artillerie) was designed to modernise the French cavalry at the start of the 1930s. They claimed the tank proved to be a fearsome adversary for the German tanks’ first attacks in 1939; with its V8 engine and 47 mm gun, destroying numerous German tanks.
The other special theme was a grand exhibition of agricultural tractors. There were quite a few interesting ones, but of course, they counted rather as exotics.
Retromobile also stands out among the high-end events with its art exhibitors. In the arts’ valley in the main hall, everyone will find their own need, be it a classic traveller chest, or art made of Porsche parts, or car-themed paintings.
Artists in Paris were much more eager to find unique solutions to attract attention than at other events.
This completes the reports on the 2020 Retromobile. If you feel like you want to revisit the entire show, have a look at the landing article on the 2020 event.
