Retromobile 2020, Classic Glamour In Paris
There doesn’t seem to be much to compare with Retromobile, it’s not just the quality of the vehicles on display, but the setting itself. Paris has one of those kind of appeals, certainly to me. For it to to be the host of what has become my favourite international show makes it even more attractive. All that glamour and the classic cars in one place. This year, Retromobile 2020, was no exception, it get’s better each time.
Retromobile Exotics - Lamborghini
This year brought many exotics, as always, but there were some stunning examples,. Lamborghini’s, both Miura and Countach were abundant. Lamborghini’s Polo Storico restoration service had a complete and work in progress example. Both equally stunning in different ways.
Many examples of the Countach could be found too, I particularly like this example, the early shape and it’s clean lines. There isn’t anything quite like it, striking and stunning at the same time. Marcello Gandini at Bertone really got this one right, the signature oblique cut to the rear arches.
The fantastic bronze colour had many people stop and look, me included. There is something about the pure shape of the original LP400 that I can’t quite get enough of. Though I certainly wouldn’t say no to an S version.
Retromobile Exotics - Ferraris
Ferrari’s didn’t disappoint of course with Girardo and Co having a great collection, of 288 GTO, F40 & F50 on their stand.
A rather nice centrepiece for the stand was the Ferrari 412 T2. This was the first Formula 1 car Ferrari Michael Schumacher drove in 1995 whilst testing for the team.
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Kidston SA
The Ferraris didn’t stop there, Kidston had some amazing cars too, the 275 GTS Spider really appealing to me. I even tried it for size. The typical old Italian driving position being a concern, I’m sure I’d get used to it.
The 275 GTB/4 from 1967 was stunning in the silver colour and represents one of only 330 of the quad cam cars Ferrari built. The body is the same as the 275 GTB long nose variants, but with the addition of a small bulge in the bonnet to identify that there was something special hiding in there. The six Weber carburettors helping to take this 3.3 litre engine to 300bhp.
Retromobile 2020 – Le Mans 917
Normally the car, chassis 043, lives in the Simeone Foundation Museum in Philadelphia. In the 1970 Le Mans this car came second in the Le Mans 24 hours, behind a short tail car. The long tail would reach speeds of 240mph on the straight to Mulsanne as back in those days there were no chicanes.
I’d love to have go in one, but that’s unlikely. However, if you like simulation or computer games at all, this car has been immortalised in Forza Horizon 4.
Renault
Back to the more commonly available cars and Renault didn’t disappoint with a lovely collection from it’s archives, including some rather unusual vehicles. This year people were asked to vote on what they wanted to see an this is what they came up with.
The two gorgeous convertibles are in green the 1935 Vivasport Cabriolet and in red and black was the 1939 Primaquatre SAPRAR Cabriolet. Coachbuilt by Carrosserie Pourtout, this is one of only fifteen examples built. There were ten of the roaster version and one Sport Coach. So much for commonly available, but wonderful to see them, I hope more things like this make their way to the show.
The liveried Renault 12 was the 1976 Abidjan – Nice rally car. This was a 4×4 conversion by Sinpar that placed third overall caught quite a bit of attention, finishing behind two Range Rovers.
Renault Prototype H
Renault are known for displaying examples of volume production vehicles, but Project H here was really a bit special. Built in 1967 to be a large fastback style car with a V8 engine it remains unique. The engine being a bit too much for the brakes, with the weight upfront, and the fuel consumption… Entering the 1970s with the oil crisis would not have seen it sell very well.
I really liked it and could imagine a superbly comfortable French luxury car with effortless power. Something I’d quite like today. But, Renault shortened the car by 200mm and replaced the heavy V8 with a V6 and the 30 was born, so the effort wasn’t wasted.
Renault Argentina
This rather stunning looking coupe is the Torino, not originally a Renault, but an AMC Rambler with a rather pretty redesign by Pininfarina. IKA, Industrias Kaiser Argentina, produced the car from 1966 to 1975 when unfortunately they went bankrupt. Renault bought the remains of the company and produced the Torino up until 1981 when the restrictions on importing foreign manufactured vehicles was reduced in the late 70s reduced the demand for the car.
Sadly it couldn’t compete with the newer, cheaper and more reliable offerings from abroad. Still, what a great looking car, the metallic bronze colour really suiting the lines. I obviously need to go to Argentina on a shopping holiday.
PSA Group – Citroen
Moving to the Peugeot Citroën (PSA Group) display we had some rather special cars on show. Firstly it was a big year for Citroën as the GS had reached 50 years old. This is a milestone vehicle for Citroën as it combined all the best things we love about the marque in a compact family car that was affordable. There was a special area in Retromobile 2020 just for a beautiful early GS.
There were of course several examples to see, one of which was a nice special edition, the GSA Tuner. I’ve never seen one of these and it’s not what you’d consider a ‘Tuner’ car to be if you live in the U.S. The GSA was essentially an update of the GS, but featuring a hatchback in place of the conventional boot. The style always implied hatchback to me. I think that comes from being born in period when all things this shape were hatchbacks.
The GS had some fantastic features about it, air cooled flat four engine, hydropneumatic suspension and all round disk brakes. This was an advanced, thoroughly modern car, and all in 1970. It won car of the year in 71 and would sell just under 1.9 million examples up to 1986. They are superb vehicles to ride in, I can testify to that.
Citroen – First Sahara Crossing Vehicle
Something quite unusual is the replica of the K1 model, HP Type B2, Golden Scarab which was the first vehicle to cross the Sahara. This replica was built over a three year period by copying the original to present alongside it for the centenary in 2019. Built by 160 students and teachers at the Arts et Métiers engineering school and the Château d’Épluches school for automotive professions. They spent over 50,000 hours to complete the project where it made a journey to LA Ferte Vidame for the celebrations.
PSA Group – Peugeot
From the Peugeot side this early 203 was looking rather special, with the trademark lights in the grill and the ‘suicide’ front doors, there was a simple elegance about the car. Built from 1939 to 1949 where it was replaced by the larger 203. This simple but stylish car sold over 100,000 examples, even allowing for the wartime period was quite a significant number. With an 1133cc engine with around 28bhp the little car could reach a maximum of 100km/h, or 62mph. Coupled with Peugeot’s independent front suspension set the benchmark for good handling cars.
This handling prowess would continue well in to the previous century with iconic cars such as the 205, but the 309 is often unfairly overlooked. This attractive car, styled by the former Chrysler-Rootes design studios in Coventry owned by PSA, was developed by the old Chrysler/Simca wing of the group. The GTI version featured the same running gear as the 205, but in a larger hatchback body, and rumour has it they handled better.
Lukas Hüni – 110 Years Of Alfa Romeo
Over on the Lukas Hüni stand there was an amazing collection of thirty Alfa Romeos. There’s something about the marque, they seem to be able to produce extremely pretty cars, especially racing cars, more so than any other.
This Tipo 33 TT 3 is a good example, still pretty even when a functional object, the last entry to Le Mans for Alfa Romeo.
But it was the 1954 2000 Sportiva prototype that was the car I wanted to leave with. Only two of these Berlinetta coupes were built, Alfa deciding not to proceed with the model. They even considered making it under the Sportiva marque, but they went with the Giulietta instead. It doesn’t matter what angle you view it from either. It’s just stunning.
The Giuliettas were lovely too, I did rather like the Zagato Giulietta SZ II ‘Coda Tronca’, or Kamm Tail in English if you prefer. Long lower roofline sets this coachbuilt special apart.
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