Retromobile Part 2, Paris February 2018
Retromobile is one of those shows that not only do I want to go to, I want to go to again. I have been managing to get a second visit in with my time in Paris, which means I have enough material for another report.
One of the things I like is the walkway between the lower and upper hall, with this years exhibition featuring record breakers from Linas Montlhéry motor racing circuit, which isn’t far from Paris. Montlhéry is quite extensive having an unusual, narrow long circuit with sections of it looking a bit like a dual carriageway, other racers on different parts of the circuit visible. But, concealed within the this complex there was a banked oval, perfect for setting speed records.
Walking upstairs I found quite an eclectic collection and immediately made a beeline for Barbot.
This was, would you believe, a 1953 2CV that’s been on a bit of a diet. It’s not the original car which unfortunately has disappeared without a trace. When it was new it was substantially modified as you can see from the replica, but that wasn’t the end of it. Underneath there were more than a few simple modifications, the suspension was lowered and the chassis shortened and the engine capacity reduced to 350cc to be eligible for class J. In 1953 the car averaged a little over 90Kmh in 12 hours, pretty amazing considering it’s small swept volume. Over 24 hours it averaged 85. It’s a stunning looking car, and I rather like the colour, I quite fancy a 2CV in that shade of blue.
Slightly further down was a Kawasaki sidecar outfit complete with two stroke engine from 1975. These are quite simply insane, with the passenger hanging off either side depending on which way it is turning. This outfit is the world record holder which completed the mile in 27.93 seconds, at 207.433Km/h.
Of course there was a Citroen there, the 1933 Petite Rosalie, a special 8CV. Using a team of drivers the car covered 133 days and 186,000 miles non-stop to prove the cars durability. Rosalie was a byword for dependability, the regular production cars not sporting a cut down body.
Retromobile wouldn’t be complete without the usual cachet of Ferrari’s. Ferrari 250s were plentiful and fabulous. This 250GT SWB on Lukas Huni AG’s stand was beautifully prepared and in race trim. Judging by the stickers it looks to have been up the hill at Goodwood in 2017.
Having been quite taken with that, I thought I’d found what I would take home money no object, I came across this 250 GT Berlinetta Long Wheel Base Tour De France. Built to compete in the Tour de France race, the model was four times successful and is quite stunning. Designed by Pininfarina and built by Scaglietti, it is truly one of the best looking Ferrari’s ever produced.
Lukas Huni had even more, all of them stunning, this Sharknose would make rather nice transportation. I could imagine cutting quite a dash in such a car. This is one of only a few Ferrari’s that’s bodywork was constructed by Bertone, the most commonyl known is the 308 GT4, distinctive for it’s wedge shape. This car was designed by none other than GiorgettoGuigaro and was Nuccio Bertone own personal car. Inspired by the 156 Sharknose Grand Prix car this unique creation has a lovely delicacy about it.
The 250’s kept coming too, this really is one Ferrari that I would want to own. I’m not fussy either, LWB, SWB , convertible. The GTO is spectacular, but I’d be very happy with anything that is unmolested and original. This collection was really quite something.
These are rare and desirable cars, so to have so many in one place was quite a treat. Mind you, it makes me think that cars like these will always be looked after whereas things that don’t command as much attention, say MK1 SAAB 9000’s are maybe less common. In fact I’m convinced there are more Ferrari 308s in the UK than there are examples of my preferred Jalopy.
There were four 308 Vetroresina’s at the show, the ones with price tags on them were very high indeed. This was the rarer of the 308 with the fibreglass body, with only 808 of them produced early on from 1975 until 1977. I always would of liked one of these, a steel bodied car would be fine, if I could afford it.
The last Ferrari, for now, really stood out. It made me not worry so much about my lack of cleaning of any of the Jalopy fleet…
The full gallery has been posted on the Facebook page, have a look, more Ferrari’s there.
Simon
Retromobile Part 2, Paris February 2018
Retromobile is one of those shows that not only do I want to go to, I want to go to again. I have been managing to get a second visit in with my time in Paris, which means I have enough material for another report.
One of the things I like is the walkway between the lower and upper hall, with this years exhibition featuring record breakers from Linas Montlhéry motor racing circuit, which isn’t far from Paris. Montlhéry is quite extensive having an unusual, narrow long circuit with sections of it looking a bit like a dual carriageway, other racers on different parts of the circuit visible. But, concealed within the this complex there was a banked oval, perfect for setting speed records.
Walking upstairs I found quite an eclectic collection and immediately made a beeline for Barbot.
This was, would you believe, a 1953 2CV that’s been on a bit of a diet. It’s not the original car which unfortunately has disappeared without a trace. When it was new it was substantially modified as you can see from the replica, but that wasn’t the end of it. Underneath there were more than a few simple modifications, the suspension was lowered and the chassis shortened and the engine capacity reduced to 350cc to be eligible for class J. In 1953 the car averaged a little over 90Kmh in 12 hours, pretty amazing considering it’s small swept volume. Over 24 hours it averaged 85. It’s a stunning looking car, and I rather like the colour, I quite fancy a 2CV in that shade of blue.
Slightly further down was a Kawasaki sidecar outfit complete with two stroke engine from 1975. These are quite simply insane, with the passenger hanging off either side depending on which way it is turning. This outfit is the world record holder which completed the mile in 27.93 seconds, at 207.433Km/h.
Of course there was a Citroen there, the 1933 Petite Rosalie, a special 8CV. Using a team of drivers the car covered 133 days and 186,000 miles non-stop to prove the cars durability. Rosalie was a byword for dependability, the regular production cars not sporting a cut down body.
Retromobile wouldn’t be complete without the usual cachet of Ferrari’s. Ferrari 250s were plentiful and fabulous. This 250GT SWB on Lukas Huni AG’s stand was beautifully prepared and in race trim. Judging by the stickers it looks to have been up the hill at Goodwood in 2017.
Having been quite taken with that, I thought I’d found what I would take home money no object, I came across this 250 GT Berlinetta Long Wheel Base Tour De France. Built to compete in the Tour de France race, the model was four times successful and is quite stunning. Designed by Pininfarina and built by Scaglietti, it is truly one of the best looking Ferrari’s ever produced.
Lukas Huni had even more, all of them stunning, this Sharknose would make rather nice transportation. I could imagine cutting quite a dash in such a car. This is one of only a few Ferrari’s that’s bodywork was constructed by Bertone, the most commonyl known is the 308 GT4, distinctive for it’s wedge shape. This car was designed by none other than Giorgetto Guigaro and was Nuccio Bertone own personal car. Inspired by the 156 Sharknose Grand Prix car this unique creation has a lovely delicacy about it.
The 250’s kept coming too, this really is one Ferrari that I would want to own. I’m not fussy either, LWB, SWB , convertible. The GTO is spectacular, but I’d be very happy with anything that is unmolested and original. This collection was really quite something.
These are rare and desirable cars, so to have so many in one place was quite a treat. Mind you, it makes me think that cars like these will always be looked after whereas things that don’t command as much attention, say MK1 SAAB 9000’s are maybe less common. In fact I’m convinced there are more Ferrari 308s in the UK than there are examples of my preferred Jalopy.
There were four 308 Vetroresina’s at the show, the ones with price tags on them were very high indeed. This was the rarer of the 308 with the fibreglass body, with only 808 of them produced early on from 1975 until 1977. I always would of liked one of these, a steel bodied car would be fine, if I could afford it.
The last Ferrari, for now, really stood out. It made me not worry so much about my lack of cleaning of any of the Jalopy fleet…
The full gallery has been posted on the Facebook page, have a look, more Ferrari’s there.
Simon 
