Exceptional vehicles, F1, anniversaries and women: the best of Rétromobile 2025

Euronews

10-02-2025

It's hard not to get caught up in the dreams behind the wheel of a magnificent 1967 Porsche 911emerald green, or an elegant Bentley Type S Continental coupé HJ Mulliner, once owned by Helmut Newton.
That's the magic of Rétromobile: to dream, to be amazed, to be informed. And sometimes, you can't resist: "These are expensive dreams! But it's more accessible here. With passion, money and time, nothing is impossible," says George, a mechanic from Nevers who already owns a Matra-Simca Bagheera, a Porsche 924 and a Renault Floride.
The story behind the bodywork
Inflation has come and gone. One stand offers vehicles for under €30,000 to attract first-time buyers and neo-collectors.
"There's something for every taste and every budget," promises Matthieu Lamoure, head of the motoring department at Artcurial. The French auction house is offering more than 120 lots that are accessible to everyone, from a few thousand to several million euros. In the end the show collected 24.6 million euros.
So why spend so much money on a four-wheeler? "It's the pleasure of sitting in a car that has a soul, a smell. It's experiencing emotions at the wheel, finding the right position for bends, meeting people.* It's fun, passion and sharing!" sums up Jean-François, a Porsche enthusiast who lives in Zurich.
Behind the bodywork, collectors are above all looking for a story.
International collectors
"What's extraordinary about car passion is that it touches everyone, from every social and professional background. There's the worker who has passionately restored his R8 Gordini f or years, company directors, and various personalities from all over the world," explains Matthieu Lamoure with passion. Arcurial Motorcars generates 37% of the company's total sales.
Collectors come mainly from Europe and the United States, but also from the Middle East, Asia and South America. This internationalisation is much sought-after by the exhibitors.
"We have a clientele that we don't see anywhere else. Japanese, Americans, Thais, Europeans... This show is a benchmark," says Emmanuel Denis, a collector of original car posters.
The smell of nostalgia
In the countless aisles of the show, the journey is not just geographical, it's also historical. The gleaming cars - old and vintage - immerse us in sporting competitions, films and, of course, childhood memories.
"I learned to drive in this DS 21 Pallas," says George, a Dutchman in his sixties, with great emotion. The Citroën DS, an icon of the French car industry, is celebrating its 70th anniversary at Rétromobile. Eleven historic examples have been on display at the show.
Another highlight is an exhibition on French Formula 1 racing from the 1960s to the present day. 16 vehicles are on display, a first.
It's also these nuggets that are attracting more and more people. More than 150,000 visitors this year. A new record. Among them are many nostalgic visitors who have come to immerse themselves in the past for the love of "beautiful shapes","real engines"* and a precious heritage.
Lenses in the rear-view mirror
While young women can perhaps quickly feel left out in the aisles, which are largely dominated by middle-aged men, the organisers are trying to reverse the trend by launching a number of training initiatives.
"Our challenge is to attract as many women as possible. We're already seeing more of them this year. We're talking about the past here, but we're not doing anything dusty!" explains Romain Grabowski, director of Rétromobile.
"We're trying to be extremely contemporary with an immersive show. We want to take young people with us into history. Passing on this culture to the next generation so that it lives on," adds Grabowski.
Perhaps proof of its resounding success, the French show created in 1976 will be exported abroad for the first time next year.