Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles, Paris, France
February 5 to 9, 2025
As every year, Rétromobile opens its doors in Paris for a few days of automotive passion. A major international event, Rétromobile brings together several hundred exhibitors, including manufacturers, dealers in classic and exceptional vehicles, auction houses, clubs and federations, spare parts and tooling dealers, artists specializing in automobiles, book and miniature dealers, restorers, museums, specialized magazines… Each year, Rétromobile celebrates a major anniversary: the 70th anniversary of the Citroen DS, which was presented in 1955, was the obvious choice for 2025.
DS 70 Years
When the DS was presented at the 1955 Paris Motor Show, it was a shock and a revolution. Worldwide production consisted mainly of pre-war cars, or cars that adopted old styles and techniques. To some extent, the DS can be considered the first truly new car of the post-war era. Revolutionary in its simple, elegant, innovative silhouette, the DS is a modern sculpture, with many new features: plunging hood, curved windows, frameless doors, jet-orifice lights framing a crimped plastic roof, streamlined rear wheels…
The interior features a futuristic dashboard, with a single-branch steering wheel or club armchairs. The hydropneumatic suspension and automatic clutch match the styling revolution. An immediate success, with thousands of order forms signed at the Paris show. The DS would continue to innovate throughout its career, with features such as directional headlamps and electronic fuel injection. Almost 1.5 million units of the DS will be built in various engine and body versions. Today, it is a highly collectible model, with clubs and fans all over the world.
An exceptional lighting
For the occasion, Rétromobile and DS Automobiles have teamed up with Mathieu Lustrerie, a workshop with the Living Heritage Label, specializing in the creation and restoration of exceptional chandeliers. The aim will be to relocate the “Light on…” concept, imagined by Mathieu Lustrerie, for the duration of the show, to create a unique visitor experience in which each element of light will pay homage to the curves imagined by designer Flaminio Bertoni.
Adolphe Kegresse, the cruising genius
Adolphe Kegresse was the man behind the scenes in the “Citroën Cruises” adventure. His life, worthy of a novel, is little known to the general public. Overshadowed by his inventions and renowned business partners, this engineer from the Franche-Comte region enjoyed an exciting and adventurous life, collaborating with Andre Citroën, advising Tsar Nicolas II, exiled following the October Revolution… A unique exhibition on the Rétromobile exhibition deck will pay him tribute through a dozen of Adolphe Kegresse’s self-propelled vehicles.
French Formula 1, from the 60s to the present day
Rétromobile will host a unique exhibition dedicated to Formula 1, paying tribute to French expertise in the field. Visitors will have the opportunity to retrace 60 years of history, with the presentation of 16 single-seaters that have left their mark on motorsport. For the first time in its history, Rétromobile will host a dedicated live stage where the great names who have written the history of Formula 1 in France will share their stories and anecdotes.
Photos archives – copyright Automobile-Museums
Several world champions, either French cars or powered by French engines, will be on display: Jackie Stewart’s 1969 World Champion Matra-Ford MS80, the Benetton-Renault B195 that won the team/driver double with Michael Schumacher in 1995, and the Williams-Renault FW19 that won the team/driver double with Jacques Villeneuve in 1997. Another French icon is the Renault RS10will, the first F1 Turbo to win a Grand Prix in the hands of Jean-Pierre Jabouille in 1979. There’re also a Ligier-Judd JS33 from 1989, and a number of Peugeot-powered F1 cars built by Prost, Jordan or McLaren.
Car manufacturers
A sign of Retromobile’s growing success is the large number of manufacturers exhibiting at the show. While this is an opportunity to showcase their heritage, the aim is also to attract customers by presenting current models or new products. Several manufacturers, including Bentley, Cadillac, Maserati, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Skoda and Toyota, will be there for the 1st time. Not all exhibiting manufacturers have yet announced their program, but we already know some of the attractions planned.
Here’s a quick tour of what to expect. DS Automobiles will of course be present, with several models. The star attraction will be the “DS Ballon” featured on the official poster. This sculpture, created in 1959 to highlight the DS suspension, has been recreated by students at Garac, the national school for automotive professions.
“L’Aventure Peugeot Citroën DS”, the association that manages the brands’ heritage, and in particular the Peugeot Museum in Sochaux, will also be exhibiting as usual, accompanied by the many model clubs of the brands. Citroën will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the illumination of the Eiffel Tower in the brand’s colors, with a three-metre-high replica of the Tower. Renault will present a number of models from its collection (unfortunately not open to the public). Having recently presented two 100% electric models based on the codes of iconic models (R4 and R5), this theme is to be expected.
At Porsche, we know that the GT3 will be in the spotlight for its 25th anniversary, but as the brand is also celebrating the first road-going Turbo, it wouldn’t be surprising to discover this historic model. Mazda has also announced the program, which will focus on the MX-5, celebrating its 35th anniversary by exhibiting 5 different models from 1995 to the present day, as well as the NC Superlight concept from 2009. At Mitsubishi, the spotlight will be on sport, with 2 Pajero models, including one that made its mark on the Dakar (Mitsubishi has 12 Dakar victories to its name), and 2 Lancer Evolution, rally stars in the late 1990s, with several drivers’ and manufacturers’ world titles between 1996 and 1999.
Photos archives – copyright Automobile-Museums
Maserati is celebrating its 110th anniversary, so we can expect to see a few automotive gems. In addition, the 3500 GT, Maserati’s initiator of Grand Tourism, will be on display at Touring Superleggera, an Italian coachbuilder who will also be exhibiting the Veloce12, a revised Ferrari 550 Maranello.
Car dealers
If Rétromobile is an ephemeral museum, it’s also a market and one of the finest galleries for classic cars, thanks to the many specialist dealers, both French and international. They come with their finest cars for sale, generally in very good condition, and offer visitors the chance to see these rare, even unique, cars up close. Axel Schuette, BPM Heritage, CarJager, Fiskens, Girardo, Joe Macari, Mecanicus or Saga Classic to name but a few. In a few weeks’ time, you’ll be able to discover in the visit report some of the jewels they presented.
Auctions houses
As every year, Rétromobile will feature classic car auctions by the leading international auction houses, each with its own strategy. Artcurial has a direct presence at the show, presenting its cars (as well as motorcycles and automobilia) on its stand, with sales taking place at Rétromobile. A little over a hundred cars are announced, with a large choice of Bentley, BMW, Ferrari, Jaguar, Maserati, Mercedes and Porsche… Several exceptional Ferraris from the same collection, all in the same metallic silver color, will be offered for sale: a 250 GT/Lusso (1963), a 275 GTB (1966), a 365 GTC/4 (1942), a 365 GTB/4 Daytona (1973) and a 550 Barchetta (2001). From another collection, some rare cars will be looking for their new owner, including a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB “long nose” and a 365 GT4 BB.
Copyright Photos Artcurial
Outside of Maranello, Artcurial offers a number of automotive icons, including a Porsche 2.7 RS Touring in its original “blood orange” livery, the penultimate of the 100 Alpine V6 Turbo Mille Milles produced, a 1955 Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing and a Bugatti EB110 GT. If you’re more of a vintage enthusiast, your choice might be a fully restored 1916 Simplex Crane Model 5 in perfect running order, a 1930 Bugatti Type 51 GP “factory” or a 1936 Delage D6-70 Special Competition. But there will also be opportunities for less well-endowed purses, with Citroën Mehari, Fiat 850 Coupe Sport, Volkswagen Golf GTI or Velam Isetta.
Copyright Photos Artcurial
RM Sothebys is holding its sale during Rétromobile week (Tuesday February 4 and Wednesday February 5), but in the “Carrousel du Louvre”. The star of the sale will undoubtedly be the Ferrari 250 LM “Scaglietti”, winner of the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans. This car has been in the collection of the Indianapolis Speedway Museum for over 50 years, and the proceeds from the sale will be used to finance part of the museum’s restoration work. Several supercars have been announced, including Bugatti Centodieci (estimated at 10-15M€!), Ferrari LaFerrari, Koenigsegg Agera, Lamborghini Countach LP400, Mercedes CLK DTM AMG, Pagani Huyra R, several Porsches including a Turbo “Flat Nose”, GT2 RS and GT3 RS.
Copyright Photos RM Sothebys
German (BMW 507, BMW 3.0 CSL “Batmobile”, Mercedes 300SL…), English (Aston Martin, Bentley, Jaguar XJR-10, Jensen…), Italian (Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Spider Zagato and 1900C Super Sprint Coupé 1954, Cisitalia, Ferrari 512M, Lamborghini, Lancia, Maserati…). There will also be F1 Lotus E21 and Williams FW 20…
Like RM Sothebys, Bonhams Cars will hold its sale during Rétromobile week (Thursday February 6) in the prestigious setting of the Grand Palais. Several lots are already known, including 2 racing Ferraris from the 1950s. The Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta Touring from 1950 was the first Ferrari to be both a racing car and a grand touring car. The 1955 Ferrari 555 Supersqualo also raced a number of F1 Grand Prix in 1955, before being modified to race in Free Formula. These 2 cars are estimated at between 4 and 6 million Euros. Another racing jewel, the Matra MS640 is a recreation of the prototype destroyed in an accident in 1969, from which Henri Pescarolo miraculously emerged alive but not unscathed. The car is based on the second chassis built at the time and abandoned following the accident, and from the original molds that had been preserved.
Copyright Photos Bonhams Cars
Slightly more affordable but very rare (less than 40 units), the Citroën DS19 Concorde is a DS coupe variant by coachbuilder Chapron. Other houses such as Aguttes, Gooding and Osenat will be exhibiting to present their upcoming spring sales.
Motorcycle area
Once again this year, vintage motorcycles will occupy a central place at Rétromobile. As in 2024, a zone dedicated to legendary two-wheelers will be set up, with the presence of major manufacturers (Triumph, Indian Motorcycles, Kawasaki, Honda, Royal Enfield, Godet Vincent…) and two-wheel equipment manufacturers. ACE CAFE, the legendary London café, will once again be exported to Porte de Versailles, offering a convivial meeting place for afficionados of all ages. An exhibition and sales area will be dedicated to vintage two-wheelers. Following the Monneret family in 2024, it’s now the turn of Eric de Seynes (motorcycle racer, Operational Director of Yamaha France and avid collector) to be at the heart of the motorcycle zone’s festivities, with a dedicated exhibition featuring the motorcycles that marked the life of this great motorcycle name.
Practical information
Opening
| Wednesday 05/02 and Friday 07/02 | 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. |
| Thursday 06/02, Saturday 08/02 and Sunday | 10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. |
Rates
| Pre-sales* | on line** | on site | |
| Adults | 20,00€ | 22,00€ | 25,00€ |
| Youth 12-16 years old | 12,00€ | 12,00€ | 12,00€ |
| Children under 12 years old | Gratuit | Gratuit | |
| Disabled and one accompanying person, per person | 17,00€ | 17,00€ | 17,00€ |
| * before January 28 | |||
| ** after January 28 |