Retromobile 2019: A step into Classic car wonderland

The annual classic car trade fair is a kind of show where some of the rarest and most extravagant jewels of the automotive industry are on display.

Over the years Retromobile has become a regular meeting point not just for classic car collectors and enthusiasts from Europe and beyond, but car dealers, car clubs and organizations promoting their upcoming events and artists exhibiting motoring-and-locomotion-inspired works of art.

Renowned manufacturers proudly present their heritage and brands showcase their historically most significant models to celebrate anniversaries.

But don’t let all of this deceive you. The moment you start thinking the show couldn’t get better, you’ll be in for a surprise.

At this year’s 44th running of Retromobile during the 6th to 10th February at Porte de Versailles Expo the selection of rare classics and exceptional vintage vehicles was the greatest it has ever been.

Pagoda Classics team headed again to the French capital to scope out the novelties in car restoration world and meet up with friends and clients.

Of the many exhibits we have seen, we bring you the ones we liked the most.

Could there be a better place for a French brand’s Centenary celebration than the City of lights?

To mark its 100th anniversary, Citroën put on 30 iconic models that had a significant impact on automotive history on display.

It was hard not to fall again for Citroën’s longtime must-have model  – the DS or „goddess“ („Deesse“ as pronounced in French).

Unveiled in 1955 at the Paris Motor Show, the DS was the first mass-production car with front discs brakes.

With its futuristic but curvy body design and luxurious interior this car was like out of this world.

No wonder it has been named „the most beautiful“ and „the most incredible“ classic car of all times by many car magazines.

In 2018th the French masterpiece of design became a ninth automotive addition to Manhattan’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) collection.

What’s more to say?

In 2018 the visitors were enchanted by his amazing Ferrari filled stand.

The Classic driver Lukas Hüni was the star of the show again with a huge two-themed display. The first part told a story of Lancia brand with a unique opportunity to see many vibrant-colored Lancia Stratos’ lined up in one place.

The second part showcased an outstanding collection of rare Chapron-bodied Citroëns.

At Retromobile 2019 Simon Kidston took part in the exhibition for the first time.

His stand turned into a purple-carpeted wonderland filled with amazing Lamborghini Miura examples which completely mesmerized the visitors.

On the showcase was the only original Lamborghini Miura Roadster. Presented at 1968 Brussels Motor Show as P400 Roadster, the car drew a lot of attention and why Ferruccio Lamborghini decided not to put it into production has remained a mystery.

Kidston’s selection included the rolling chassis presented at the 1965 Turin Auto Salon which became the basis for the Bertone-designed Miura body and a red Miura SVJ specially ordered for the Shah of Iran and bought afterward by the actor Nicholas Cage.

British car dealer Fiskens has set the bar high this year by bringing some of the world’s greatest classic cars to Paris.

The cars shown included  Ferrari 365 GTB/4 „Daytona“ Competizione – 1 of 15 full factory built, the tenth Long Wheel Base built Ferrari 250 California Spyder, Alfa Romeo Tipo 33/3, and one of 4 ‘A-Spec’ Shadow DN5’s.

The most interesting classic and sports car was the Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato, one of 19 examples with Zagato coachwork and one of only a few left-hand drive examples.

The car was in possession of the Zagato family.

Ugo Zagato’s son Elio, a successful road-racing driver in the 1950s, ordered the DB4GT with some unique features like the Carello headlights, a bonnet with an air scoop and tubular bumpers.

Amongst all beautiful Mercedes-Benz 300SLs presented at the show, the real attention-taker was the one wearing scars.

The iconic 1955 Coupe has had an accident more than 40 years ago and has been carefully stored in a private garage since.

In original condition with preserved leather interior and factory Rudge wheels, the classic Gullwing is a perfect restoration project car and a great opportunity for classic car collectors in search of a dream classic.

Would you believe us if we told you a boat could outshine the famous BMW 507, one of the most beautiful cars in automotive history?

Yeah, we wouldn’t believe it either.

But the BMW presented a real treat to Retromobile visitors – the BMW 507 speedboat.

Back in 1957, the only BMW boat was built by boat manufacturer Rambeck in order of BMW, using the parts of the car it shares a name with: the steering wheel, the dashboard, the sidewise grill, and the Eight-cylinder V engine.

The boat never went into production.

For years it had been kept in a barn, heavily damaged, until a classic car enthusiast Felipe Garcia heard of its existence and decided to track it down.

The BMW boat still had all the original parts but needed a complete restoration. The outer hull was restored and painted in original colors by Greman restorator specialized in restoring Riva boats.

Upholstery and instrument panel were restored to just as they were when the boat left the shipyard.

Only around 250 cars produced in the 1950s make the BMW 507 Roadster extremely rare and most sought-after classic, but standing there next to its one-of-a-kind nautical companion it looked almost ordinary to us.

When a show is so abundant with cars, motorcycles, and automobilia, there’s always a possibility you will miss something. But there was one exhibit you couldn’t miss even if you wanted to.

It’s pretty impossible to pass by a colossal six-wheeled truck weighing 50 tonnes and not notice it.

At the time of its production in 1957, T100 was the largest truck in the world. The truck brand Berliet developed it in order of the French government for the transport of oil drilling machinery in Sahara in the 1950s.

When first presented at 1957 Paris Motor Show the giant truck was too big to enter the Grand Palais hall, so it had to be on display in a specially designed area at Porte de Versailles Exhibition Centre.

Artcurial Motorcars auction house hosted once again The official Retromobile sale.

The 2019 edition started on Friday the 8th with the collectors’ car sale, starring an outstanding 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta estimated up to 22 million euros. Not only has this pre-war vintage beauty been in the same ownership for 43 years but was the second one of only five berlinettas with Carrozzeria Touring body ever built. It was sold for 16.745.600 € what makes it the most expensive car sold during the Retromobile 2019 classic car auctions.

Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta is the luxury classic icon that everyone imagines.

The world’s largest collection of the Italian MV Augusta classic motorcycles was presented for sale on Saturday the 9th.

The auction has concluded in style on Sunday the 8th with a tribute to Formula 1 – a sale entitled Vibration, including the collection of Formula 1 helmets, racing suits, and accessories worn by Alonso, Hamilton, Schumacher, and other Formula 1 drivers.

The first of a series of Schubert helmets created for Michael Schumacher, with a serial number 001, was sold for 52.000 €.

The one Lewis Hamilton wore in season 2012 for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes reached 54.600 €.

2019 edition of Retromobile ended on Sunday the 10th February, setting the new record with 132.000 visitors feasting their eyes on nearly a thousand vehicles during the 5-day show.

Once again the show approved itself as the great place to see what’s happening in the classic car world and feel the enthusiasm for classic cars.

Judging by what we have seen, there’s one stellar classic car season ahead.

We eagerly await the next year’s 45th birthday of Retromobile, until then Pagoda Classics team is looking forward to highlights of another must-attend classic car trade fair in Stuttgart – Retro Classics 2019 from 07th till 10th of March.

See you there!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Author: Josipa Beštak  Pagoda Classics