Paris, France
February 3 to 7, 2027
After celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026, Rétromobile Paris reaffirms its status as a must-attend international event, bringing together automakers, major international dealers, collectors, classic car clubs, artisans, and artists connected to the classic car world. As it does every year, numerous automakers will showcase rare gems brought out for the occasion from their museums or reserves, while also displaying a few current models. In the spotlight this year, Volvo will kick off its centennial celebrations in Paris.
100 Years of Volvo
Featured on the 2027 edition’s poster, Volvo will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its automotive business in 2027. The model chosen for the poster is the Volvo P1800 S coupe, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful models to roll off the assembly lines in Gothenburg. While this model is best known as the car driven by Simon Templar (played by Roger Moore) in the TV series “The Saint”, the car featured on the official poster is the red 1800 S coupe purchased new in 1966 by Irv Gordon, an American science teacher. Driving his car daily, he racked up the kilometers and thus earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1998, with more than 2.7 million kilometers under his belt.
Irv Gordon continued to travel the roads in his trusty Volvo, passing the symbolic milestone of 2 million miles (3.2 million kilometers) in 2002, before reaching 3 million miles in 2013, still with its original engine. When Irv Gordon passed away in 2018, the odometer read 5,246,875 kilometers. Holding the all-time record for mileage driven by a car with a single owner, this vehicle is now owned by the World of Volvo in Gothenburg, the museum dedicated to the brand. It will make a special appearance outside its usual home to be exhibited in Paris.
Other iconic models from the Swedish brand will, of course, be on display, such as the ÖV4 “Jakob,” the brand’s first model produced in a run of fewer than 300 units, the PV 655 (1933), equipped with Volvo’s first 6-cylinder engine; and the “Duett,” introduced in 1953, the Swedish brand’s first station wagon, a category that would become one of its specialties. In fact, other station wagons will be featured in the selection, notably the spectacular 850 BTCC, which raced (and won) in the British Touring Car Championship.
Michel Vaillant
It’s not just cars and automakers that celebrate anniversaries, comic book heroes do, too. Michel Vaillant is celebrating his 70th anniversary; the famous race car driver’s first adventure, “The 24th Hour”, appeared in the “Tintin” magazine in 1957. Instantly embraced by young readers, Jean Graton’s hero embarked on a long career in motorsports, competing in every discipline and on every continent, blending fiction and reality. Visitors can look forward to a sneak peek at the new comic book, book signings, and surprises.
Bluebird K7
Following the Bugatti railcar in 2026, Rétromobile invites visitors to discover another monumental vehicle: Donald Campbell’s Bluebird K7, a jet-powered water speed record-breaking craft. The Bluebird K7 set several speed records on various bodies of water between 1955 and 1964, reaching speeds ranging from 318 km/h to 444 km/h. On January 4, 1967, in a final attempt to break the symbolic 300 mph (484 km/h) barrier, the K7’s engine cut out; the craft took flight and crashed into Lake Coniston (England), killing its pilot in the accident.
The Bluebird K7 was not recovered until 2001, when a complete restoration began, and it is now on display at the Ruskin Museum. After a new visit to Lake Coniston in 2026, the Bluebird K7 will be featured at Retromobile in February as part of a monumental exhibition. Organized in partnership with the Ruskin Museum, this exhibition will trace the history of the Campbell family and their quest for speed, from the first records set by Sir Malcolm Campbell with his Bluebird vehicles to the feats of his son Donald with the Bluebird K7. Through archival images and personal artifacts, visitors will discover the story of the Bluebird K7, from its design to its restoration, nearly six decades after its disappearance.
More to come…
The full Retromobile program will be unveiled in the coming weeks, and you will find the latest information in this blog. At the same time as Retromobile, the brand new “Ultimate Supercar Garage” show will be taking place, dedicated, as you might expect, to the rarest and most exclusive cars on the planet.
Practical information
Opening
| Wednesday 3 February | 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. |
| Thursday 4 February | 10 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. |
| Friday 5 February | 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. |
| Saturday 6 February | 10 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. |
| Sunday 7 February | 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. |
Rates
The photos on this page belong to the exhibition organizers, no right of reproduction without express permission.