The first part of the report on factory stages covered some nine brands already, but half of them are still to go.
The stages vary of course in sizes, layout and topics, but it is truly telling that Rétromobile featured about as many brands as last year’s infamous IAA. This clearly showed that the automotive crisis did not yet reach the world of classics by February, even if it all might be washed away by the apocalypse brought by the coronavirus.
A hybrid Porsche before it was cool, or there was even Porsche…
This year, the Porsche stage aimed to illustrate tradition and innovation. The primary stage was given to the Semper Vivus, the first-ever completely operational hybrid vehicle that was exhibited in 1900 at the Paris Universal Exhibition.
The car also served to highlight the long history to Porsche’s current electrification offensive with the all-electric Porsche Taycan.
Three dedicated stages for DS, Citroen and Peugeot
The PSA group showcased cars for all three of its manufacturers: Peugeot, Citroën and DS. Although there were several DS models at every Retromobile, most notably the 2018 stage featuring several presidential DS models from De Gaulle’s 6 meters long limo to the DS7 of President Macron.
This time the more substantial DS presence included a concept car from PSA’s emerging premium brand. The DS X Tense is a crazy car even by French standards (they can also play it cool, as evidenced by the E-Tense Concept). This car is unpurposefully different as the window buttons of a current series production DS.
The driver is sitting in an open cockpit while two travellers are sitting in a closed cabin. The car is asymmetric, but the 1-2/3 proportions of the front and rear are reversed.
As far as road-legal models are concerned, DS was marking 50 years of the legendary SM. And they were not the only ones to throw a party for the SM, but more on that a bit later.
Citroën erected a central stage surrounded by classic models from a multicoloured Mehari to the iconic 2CV. The brand was celebrating several of its models’ birthdays at a stand extending over more than 957 m² in hall 1.
The primary theme was the GS model’s 50th birthday and the 100th anniversary of crossing the Sahara with a tank-like vehicle.
Further away, a Citroen stage featured an incredible set of cars. Each could star at any show, like a one-off SM concept built by Frua (the front-wheel-drive SMS), or an SM converted into a transporter (carrying the concept car).
There was another SM with the bonnet open, albeit not factory fresh. The SM’s mechanics are pretty impressive and complicated even by French standards.
On the other flank of the PSA exhibition, Peugeot was celebrating the 60th birthday of the 404 and showcased its 200 series to underpin the launch of the famous 208, also presented.
The Peugeot Museum also brought a lovely set of concept cars, with electrification in the spotlight. The thematic also helped to underpin the presentation of the new PEUGEOT e-208.
Alongside the production cars, the Peugeot Museum showcased the 100% electric EX1 concept car from 2010, a PEUGEOT 106 “ELECTRIC” from 1996, and the brand’s first electric car, known as VLV (Voiture Légère de Ville meaning Light City Vehicle) from 1941.
During the second world war, the rationing of the gasoline encouraged to seek alternative sources of energy, Peugeot is then the only large manufacturer to be interested in this mode of propulsion. The VLV was built in Paris from June 1941 to February 1945 (377 units). The Museum showcased many other alternative fuel models from the wartime, not just electric but also coal-powered versions.
From Art Nouveau to Futurism: a visit to the Aventure Peugeot Museum
Renault – the popular choice
For the first time, Renault organised a participatory exhibition at its 570 m² Rétromobile stage. Last year, the French manufacturers offered enthusiasts to choose ten cars from the Renault Classic collection. I also followed this on the Renault Classic Facebook page, although the final result did not include my personal favourites.
In the end, 12 vehicles were selected encompassing the 120 years of colourful history of the iconic French brand. The three pre-war cars included the 1910 Renault Type BY, a 1929 Renault Type LO Fire engine and a 1935 Renault Vivasport Cabriolet.
Apparently, the 1960s and 1970s proved most popular among voters. These included a Renault 12 Abidjan Nice – the estate car that won the Abidjan-Nice rally in 1975, a 1994 Renault Clio Williams, a 1972 Renault Torino, a 1984 Renault 5TX, a 1972 Renault 17 TL and a 1961 Renault Floride.
Renault Classic added two cars from private collectors: a Fuego Turbo, to celebrate its 40th birthday and a Primaquatre Saprar. This latter was coachbuilt with bodywork by Marcel Pourtout in 1939, to celebrate the Primaquatre’s 90th birthday.
Another highlight was the gigantic 1928 Renault IK sweeper, that was designed to keep the streets of Paris clean. If I want to imagine a monster truck from the ’20s, that would be it!
Shelby American takes us to the road to Le Mans
Belgian importer Gentlemen Car does its best to represent Shelby American at major classic car shows. The only reason why I could not take good photos was that they were partying so hard, that made photographing quite tricky.
Škoda celebrated 125 years of history
Another anniversary year for 2020 is the 125th anniversary of the famous Czech brand. I see you raising your eyebrows now… 125 is not even a round number, not to mention the subject, known for shabby water boilers that were sold as personal vehicles in Eastern Europe.
A lot has happened since the rear engine pariahs, and Škoda became a massive success again with the help of the VW Group. Their car show stages emit the best sort of confidence with light colours and natural materials, and success in every area from bicycle sport to rallying. And when it comes to history, the Czech brand has a lot to offer, with a permanent museum (still on my bucket list). They also show presence at classic car shows, in Essen every year I can remember, often with a grand stage.
Foreign brands to challenge the Germans at the Techno Classica
This time they attended Rétromobile with a medium-sized stage that offered everything: origins, past, classics, racing and a concept for the future.
Laurin & Klement initially specialised in building and repairing bicycles. Luckily the Czechs always find super-interesting specimen from their Museum vault. To mark the occasion of its 125th birthday, the Czech brand was exhibiting six outstanding vehicles starting with a replica of a classic SLAVIA bicycle from 1896, the earliest years.
The first post-war race car from Mladá Boleslav is the in 1949 Škoda 1101 ‘TUDOR’, that also raced in Le Mans in June 1950, even if the car did not finish the race. While unable to pursue international racing aspirations, the race car took part in more than 70 motorsport events between 1949 and 1962.
Škoda also showcased a classic 1959 Oktavia, and a future concept, the Vision E concept car, Škoda’s first electric car.
Touring Superleggera
The fact that the revived Touring Superleggera was present in Paris is already a big thing. Their stage featured two Maserati cabriolets: the historic 1958 3500 GTI and the newborn Sciàdipersia,
This new small production car follows a very active schedule this year. It participated in the Zoute Grand Prix that featured a dedicated modern Touring Superleggera category. This year it was showcased at the Autosalon Brussels (in the Dream Car segment).
Volkswagen commercial vehicles: honouring the Bully
The Bully was arguably a flagship and truly iconic model from VW (well, apart from the Beetle and Golf 🙂 ). It enjoyed cult status already in the 60s, and there is a massive fan circle still.
VW’s Rétromobile stage was showcasing four Bullies, representing the famous vehicle’s evolution over the years along with the poster of the coming new electric Bully.
There are a lot of things to see at a Classic car show, factory stages are among the most spectacular things, and Rétromobile excelled here again. What really makes Rértromobile unique is that some private stages often outshine the factory shows.
For more information and links to all the show-related reports on Rétromobile, visit:
FOR AN OVERVIEW OF EVENTS, CHECK OUT MY ULTIMATE AUTOMOTIVE EVENTS CALENDAR:
The ultimate car show and automotive events calendar 2020 – The Coronavirus update December
