The 39th Salon Retromobile was held on February 5th-9th, at the Porte de Versailles Exhibition Centre in South central Paris; with more than 90,000 global visitors, exploring this varied, multifaceted and idiosynchratic collector's car show. Focal displays at this year's event were -
"Babs" and the "LSR Sunbeam" paying tribute to World Land Speed record "greats" J.G. Parry-Thomas and Sir Malcolm Campbell, on display at the event's entrance.
The Centenary of the First World War – an extensive, detailed display of military vehicles which saw service in France and Benelux, between 1914 and 1918.
"Cars of the Maharajahs" – sponsored by French automotive logistician GEFCO; who assembled a superb, diverse display of cars from global collections, which had previously been ordered new, by the car-crazy Maharajah's of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. These included the "Swan" and "Cygnet " cars from the Louwman Museum in the Hague, complemented by a Delahaye from the Mullin Museum in Los Angeles, a stunning 38/250 SS from the Mercedes Benz Classic Centre in Stuttgart and an exceptionally rare, 1925 Alfa Romeo RL SS from Museo Storica Alfa Romeo in Turin.
"Les Collection des Alpines du Jean Rédélé" – paid tribute to the late founder of the Alpine brand, showcasing fifteen Alpines from his foundation's collection, built between 1963 and 1978 …… as well as objects from the Alpine racing division - including bodywork moulds, wind-tunnel models, Gordini engines and trophies.
Mercedes-Benz Classic Centre used the event to launch their "120 Years of Motor Sport" celebration, focusing on the brand's significant motor racing success in France. Highlights included a 1914 Grand Prix racer and the 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R "Streamliner" , which both won the French Grand Prix, forty years apart, accompanied by the Sauber-Mercedes C 9, which won Le Mans in 1989.
On a somewhat more modest stand, Bentley Motors displayed one of the most famous cars in the marque's history — the 1924 Le Mans winning 3 litre, driven by John Duff and Frank Clement, celebrating ninety years, since the first of the manufacturers six wins at La Sarthe.
Several prominent dealers from across Europe, took central displays in the main hall – the recently restored 1967 Ferrari 330 P4 was parked against the ramp of an ex-Scuderia Ferrari Fiat Bartoletti transporter and "PLB23", a 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing (which was used in period by Sir Stirling Moss, to "practice for his famous win in the 1955 Mille Miglia) was one of many available for purchase by attendees - including an unrestored example, which had languished in a workshop in Northern England, for more than thirty years, and had changed hands twice in as many months, prior to the event.
The increasing popularity and importance of Retromobile, was best explained by a record attendance, and the presence of three major auctions houses, offering more than 1,500 "lots" of automobilia, art and collectors cars, over three evenings. French auction house, Artcurial was "on-site" in Porte de Versailles, offering more than four hundred "lots" - which went on to become the largest ever grossing, collectors car sale in France, whilst RM Auctions occupied the courtyard entrance of Les Invalides, where it sold more than 80% of its catalogue and Bonhams returned to the nearby Grand Palais, where top sale of the day was a Ferrari 275 GTB/4.
Long established as the opening event of the European season, Le Salon is a "short-hop" by plane or train for most…..and definitely worth a visit in 2015!
Auction Results:
RM Auctions
1953 Gordini Type 24S
1955 Ferrari 750 Monza
Bonhams
Artcurial
Displays:
Lancia
Mercedes Benz
Les Voitures de Maharajah
Les Alpine de Jean Rédélé
"Babs" |
