Forget German classic car fairs, go to Paris
Sometimes it’s worth looking across the border: While German vintage car fairs seem to be dominated by Porsche 911s and Mercedes SLs, Paris is much more colourful and diverse. Retromobile 2025 is not just for Francophile car fans, with many manufacturers using the event to showcase old and new models.
Take Renault, for example. The star of the stand is the Filante Record 2025, an unusual concept car. It is 5.12 metres long, but only 1.19 metres high and weighs just 1,000 kg. It sets its range records with an 87 kWh battery, the same capacity as the Renault Scenic E-Tech Electric. Friction-reducing tyres and steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire technology also contribute to efficiency.
One of its inspirations was the Record 40 CV (1925-1926), which was parked opposite the Filante Record 2025 for promotional purposes. The Renault 4, R5, Renault 17 and their new electric versions are similar. The Renault-17, however, is only a restomod concept that will not go into production.
The DS brand is making a big splash. The brand is celebrating the 70th birthday of its namesake, the legendary Citroën DS, with many historic models. And it’s not without cause, as the DS was presented to the public at the same location in October 1955.
On the Expo site at the Porte de Versailles, around a dozen historic DSs will meet the new DS N°8, the 100 per cent electrically powered top model from DS Automobiles. The centrepiece of the exhibition is a faithful reconstruction of the famous DS advertising photo from 1959; a DS floats on four red balls instead of tyres.
DS Automobiles and the French Mint are also jointly presenting a commemorative coin to mark the 70th anniversary of the DS. The 10-euro coin shows a 1975 DS 23 with a 1955 DS 19 underneath, with gold inlaid stripes symbolising the light cones that swivelled with the steering, one of the technical innovations of the DS 23. The collector’s coin is made of 333 silver and sells for €15.
Maria Callas captivated the world with her voice. To travel around Europe in style, she chose a fascinating automobile: Mercedes-Benz Classic is presenting the legendary opera singer’s former Type 600 “Grand Mercedes” (W 100) as an exclusive trade vehicle at the Salon Retromobile in Paris. This is a short-wheelbase saloon from 1971.
Another star-studded highlight is the presentation of a C 111-II. This spectacular super sports car from 1970 was used as an experimental vehicle to demonstrate the possibilities of the Wankel engine and new construction methods. All other vehicles are part of the company’s own collection. Mercedes-Benz Classic is showing this C 111-II together with a rare technical exhibit: an original four-rotor Wankel engine.
The Historical Section of the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) is presenting a special Mercedes-Simplex 28/32 PS from the Mercedes-Benz Classic collection at the Salon Rétromobile. The 1904 car took part in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run in 2024 and symbolises the triumphant advance of the Mercedes-Simplex at the beginning of the 20th century. The Mercedes Simplex 28/32 PS was produced from 1904 to 1909. Its four-cylinder engine had a capacity of 5,322 cubic centimetres and produced 23.5 kW (32 PS) at 1,200 rpm.
The Salon Retromobile is one of the world’s most important classic car shows. This year it will be held from 5 to 9 February 2025 at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles exhibition centre in the Saint-Lambert district of the 15th arrondissement of the French capital. The Retromobile is a fascinating start to the international classic car season in the city of the beautiful automobile.
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