For 2003 report click Rétromobile 2003
Rétromobile 2002
An
old-timer's first time at Rétromobile
In fact it was two first times for us, firstly our trip to Paris
by 'Eurostar' - Brilliant, including a 1st class up-grade organised
by Trisha Pilkington who had persuaded us the show was worth a visit and she
was right. Smooth, silent, and very fast in France (they say the
Eurostar goes at 180 mph), free drinks, lunch and newspapers, our hotel booked
for us and clever instructions on how to get on and off the right metro.
We (Martin and Sue Morris) arrived Thursday evening and walked to Porte
de Versailles where we found several exhibitions including Rétromobile. Then to
a restaurant marked by copper kettles hanging outside, in which the Pilks and
Wilsons were already ensconsed. A gluebsome and jolly meal.
Next morning we joined the queues and entered Rétromobile. Michelin were
actually making tyres in the first hall. Behind this we found Christies
impressive auction stand which included a fabulous one man collection of 'No
Reserve' cars which included a whole row of P1 RRs, a fine Stutz, a couple of
very sporting Hispanos etc.
<
Delahaye Bus …………………………………..Delage
D6
Elsewhere there were Stands for everything - autojumble, motoring
art, tools, model cars galore, cars for sale and almost every 'make' was
exhibited on Club stands - Delage, Jaguar, Peugeot, Alfa Romeo, Talbot ….. Then
there were the boats - all varnished hulls - beautiful. Many famous racing
power-boats including the 3 Pointers - lake boats, one of which was in
Christies auction and I'd already picked it out as our favourite for its 450S
Maserati engine and the cockpit with a 26" steering wheel and rev counter
the size of a darts board.
Finally the chums - people one meets. Even more than when attending VSCC
Silverstone!
MM
Rétromobile
9th – 19th February, 2001
Aero-engined fantasy Alfa
Rétromobile opens on a Friday every year
in Paris – and it is surprising how many familiar faces are seen having an
early pick at the autojumble stalls. Escalating show prices have reduced the
number of these stands and also the stands taken by clubs, more space being
bought by car manufacturers who sadly manage to slip in an out-of-place new car
or two. So what was special? The Aerotrain prototypes – air cushion trains
‘riding’ on concrete monorails; Tony Bianchi’s Talbot GP with a vintage
bi-plane over it; 8c Maserati with enormously long engine and sixteen exhaust
pipes; cheerful hospitality from TOPS friend Edwardo Vetri, promoting the Giro
di Sicilia; huge Bucciali on the Christies’ stand; odd Renault prototype
seemingly going the wrong way, (see green Renault picture below- the car goes
to the left!). etc. Did Mercedes study the early folding hardtop? Don’t miss
all this next year – TOPS party in Paris?
<
<
<
<
<
<
Rétromobile 2000
Off the plane from South Africa and on to
the train for the Paris Show. It seemed better presented than last year with
more spacious stands and less large manufacturers showing modern cars. A lot of
model car, pictures, books and 'junk' but fewer rumageable car spares. An
elegant Figoni Falaschi Talbot Goutte d'Eau (teardrop) 1939, caught my eye,
together with a D8 120 on the Delage stand.
Citroen cars were scattered about the
show and there was a 1970 Citroen helicopter RE2. Audi had a good-looking bike
NSU Delphin III (Streamliner 1956 record-breaker, supercharged 2 cyl. 339 kmh)
which I found more interesting than the often seen Auto Union replicas. Other
notables were a Gordini 1954 T16 from the Schlumf collection, the Voisin C6
replica GP car which looked suitable for a Chitty-Chittty Bang Bang film and
numerous Ferraris including a 375 F1 1951 V12 4.5 litre. Renault showed their
1998 and 1995 concept cars and also two 1913 limos whilst BMW exhibited their
new Z8 due to be available in May at £82,000 and Maserati had their new 3200 GT
and from 1961, the 3500 GT.
Chapal and Mercedes Benz had the best
designed stands and Michelin the only one with something for the public to
watch happening - they made some tyres!
The worst exhibit was a ghastly Lady
Penelope Chriscraft all in pink with leopard accessories and leopard fenders
which was displayed among some beautiful steam boats. Found a stand with a
terrific display of tools - they came from Cornwall near where we live - so
guess where we are off to soon.
Surprises of the show were a (£3) Fusi
and Slater book on Alfa Romeo at £260 and a Barrett Jackson stand where the
information said they were the official Automobile Club of Monaco auctioneers
and their auction would be on 27th May (the same night as the Brooks
auction!).
It is a good show and worth a visit but
very tiring on the feet.
Rétromobile 1999
Rétro Mobile and Rétro Nautique at the
Porte de Versailles in February, attracted 120,000 people. This year it was a
better show for seeing and being seen, than for the variety of cars exhibited,
although there were some interesting surprises: a Tatra on skis - Aeroluge type
87 for those familiar with Tatras; Renault included a 1925 military Snowcat and
a large section of the Hall was taken by Citroen celebrating 80 years of car
production with exhibits from 1919 to the C3 of 2000. Not as many spares as
usual but we did find a flat 12 Alfa engine 1950, a V8 Turbo 1972 and a double
supercharger for an Alfetta - rather a surprise as we thought all these were in
the Alfa Romeo Museum. Christophe Pund had a Grand Prix Talbot Lago for sale
and a Le Mans coupe Frazer Nash, the latter became ours. Lots of interesting
boats but they may go elsewhere next year according to Ogliastro who had to
turn some car exhibitors away. Surprising to see a 1750 Alfa Romeo Zagato on
the stand of a 'well-known trader' looking 'not quite right' and with a brake
assembled the wrong way round!
P.G.P.