MEETT Toulouse, France
September 5-7 2025
Every year in early September, vintage car (and motorcycle) enthusiasts gather at the Auto-Moto Classic show in Toulouse. Here’s a look back at the 2025 edition in words and pictures. This year, several anniversaries provided the opportunity for dedicated exhibitions, such as the 70th anniversary of the Citroen DS, Alpine, and Peugeot 403. Other exhibitions were more thematic, such as buggies, British and Japanese cars, and hot rods. As you can see, there was something for everyone, so let’s take a closer look.
70 years of the DS
Since Retromobile at the beginning of 2025, the DS has been in the spotlight at numerous shows and museums. It’s fair to say that this anniversary has been celebrated in style. At Auto-Moto Classic Toulouse, the Citroën DS France Amicale helped to bring together an interesting selection of models. The sedans ranged from a 1956 DS 19 (so one of the first produced) to the DS 23 Electronic Injection, the ultimate version of this legendary model.
Other sedans represented several variants, including the DS 21, ID 19, and DS 20. The two station wagons on display featured folding seats in the rear compartment, allowing them to carry seven passengers. The convertible is one of the most sought-after models, and two examples were on display.
One was a La Croisette convertible, a luxurious and rare version (only 15 units were produced) offered by the coachbuilder Chapron. Logos, labels, chrome trim, spoked wheels, and a distinctive red leather interior make this convertible an exceptional model. The other resembled a “factory” convertible, but it was an Ivanoff convertible, the result of a rigorous conversion from a sedan to a convertible.
A “factory” DS Coupé served as a reminder that the DS was also a successful rally car: a shortened chassis and body and cut-away rear wings improved handling and maintenance.
70 years of Alpine
The French sports car brand is also celebrating its 70th anniversary and has been the subject of several events this year. In Toulouse, the brand was presented at the Automobile Club du Midi stand. On one side of the stand were the more GT-style coupes, from the A310 to the A610, and on the other were the small “berlinettes”.
The first A106 was a small coupe based on the Renault 4 CV 1063, with original Chappe et Gessalin bodywork. The “Mille Miles” version on display, named after a famous road race of the time, had an improved rear suspension. Next came the A108, this time equipped with the Renault Dauphine engine, exhibited as a coupe and a convertible. The A108 was available in a “berlinette” version for the Tour de France and gave rise to the most famous of the Alpines, the A110 “Berlinette”, which ensured the brand’s success.
Although it was also available as a spider and a 2+2 coupe (both on display), it was above all in its “Berlinette” body that the Alpine A110 became an automotive legend. It underwent several engine upgrades, from 1000 to 1800 cc, with the ultimate versions featuring 16 valves or a turbo.
Several examples tell this story, with original versions such as the A110 1300 “Olympique,” a special white series with blue stripes, a factory “long tail” prototype, and a factory 1600 S rally car.
Alpine also competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, as evidenced by the 1965 M65, capable of reaching 270 km/h with its small 1.3-liter 125-horsepower engine.
Peugeot 403 anniversary
Although less famous and legendary than the DS, the Peugeot 403 is also celebrating its 70th anniversary and is entitled to a small retrospective exhibition, featuring the different body styles that have existed, including the sedan, station wagon, pickup truck, and the rarest, the convertible, presented in a beautiful red paint job.
British cars
The “British cars” theme offered a broad overview of British manufacturing, featuring small roadsters such as the Austin Healey, MG Morgan and Triumph; the larger sedan Rover; sports cars such as Jaguar, Lotus, and Marcos; and the prestigious Aston Martin, Bentley, and Rolls Royce. Not to mention the Land Rover Defender, one of Britain’s iconic cars.
Japanese cars
The exhibition dedicated to Japanese cars featured some of the stars of Japanese production, such as the Nissan Skyline GTX, the small Honda S800 convertibles, the Honda S2000, the Datsun (the name under which Nissan cars were long sold in Europe and the US) 2000 convertible and Fairlady “Z,” as well as the historic Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4s.
American cars
It is a tradition in Toulouse for US cars to be well represented. I will come back to the “American Day” presentation later in this article, but a significant part of the large exhibition hall was reserved for US productions. Of course, there was a selection of muscle cars, but above all there were two “star” areas.
The first was the Hot Rods exhibition, a category that represents a wide variety of vehicles, often based on popular cars, whether they be ultra-stripped-down cars highlighting their mechanics, lowered sedans with reduced glass surfaces, or pickups. In all cases, the mechanics are tuned and the paintwork gleaming.
The other area was dedicated to Shelby, with several Cobras, roadsters, and coupes, as well as GT40s (continuation), since Carroll Shelby was behind the Ford GT 40. This section was completed by a large van used on the racetrack and a car trailer, on which two GT40s were displayed. Let’s not forget a small exhibition of Buggys, those little VW Beetle-based vehicles that were all the rage in the 1960s, in the spirit of Sea, Sex and Sun.
Regional Race tracks
Auto-Moto Classic Toulouse 2025 also offered an exhibition on an original theme, with “historic” regional car and motorcycle circuits. While there are several permanent circuits such as Albi and Nogaro, the region also hosted races on road circuits in the 1950s, such as the Circuit du Comminges (Saint Gaudens) and the Circuit de Montauban, where the most famous drivers of their time came to race. To bring back these memories, numerous race cars were presented on a simulated starting grid, including Formula 2, Formula 3, and promotional formulas (Junior, France, etc.), a few “sports” prototypes, as well as older cars such as the Peugeot 1907, Bugatti 35 and 37, Simca Gordini, and more.
Clubs
Clubs are always an important part of a classic car and motorcycle show, and as every year, many of them were in attendance. It’s difficult to name them all, so here is a small selection. Logically, French car clubs, for current or disappeared brands, were the most numerous. Around the DS anniversary exhibition, Citroën clubs presented several historic models from the brand, from the 1930s C4 to the SM, including the 2CV, Mehari and XM.
Peugeot model clubs were also present. The 504 club exhibited two extreme models from the range, with the very elegant and still sought-after convertible and a raised Dangel 4×4 pickup truck equipped for firefighters. The 404 club also covered a wide range, from convertibles to pickup trucks with tarpaulin covers. A 1976 604 V6 sits alongside a 1937 402 limousine, two high-end Peugeot models separated by 40 years.
Among the defunct brands, Matra and Simca are the best represented. The Matra clubs presented sporty models, from the Djet, taken over from René Bonnet after Matra bought the company, to the Bagheera and Murena, through the 530.
Simca also focused on sport with several Simca 1000s heavily modified for racing and the small 1200 S coupés, beautifully designed by Bertone. Also worth mentioning are Facel Vega, Salmson and Hotchkiss, regulars at the Toulouse show.
Several foreign car clubs were represented, such as Club Rover France, which took part in the British car exhibition, Mustang Club and the Porsche Classic, 914, 924/944/968 and 928 clubs.
Favorites
Among all the cars on display, apart from those already mentioned, I picked two others, two “local” favorites. First, a Jensen 541R, a beautiful British coupe now residing in Occitanie. While Jensen is best known (among enthusiasts, at least) for its Interceptor, a 2+2 GT equipped with a Chrysler V8, the 541 dates back to the late 1950s. This beautiful coupe, which could easily be mistaken for an Aston Martin DB5, was produced in a limited run of around 200 units, making it a rare car. Although the car was originally equipped with an Austin 6-cylinder engine, the model on display at the show has been modified with a more powerful Rover V8 and Aston Martin running gear, making it a unique car. It has been completely restored and is now a luxurious but lightweight (barely a ton) 2-seater GT.
My other favorite, the CID Babieca, is also a unique car, built in the Toulouse region. It is a modern roadster inspired by the racing cars of the 1960s. Handcrafted, of course, but the Babieca is equipped with an original 550 horsepower AMG V12 engine and benefits from a very careful finish.
Military camp and radio-controlled cars
At the Auto-Moto Classic show in Toulouse, collectors of World War II vehicles exhibit their carefully staged machines, which arouse the curiosity of visitors. Another recurring attraction is the radio-controlled circuit, which features a large track on which impressive trucks and construction vehicles are skillfully maneuvered by their owners.
Dealers and artists
A traditional feature of “classic” shows, several local dealers known for their range of sports and luxury cars, such as Dayrault and Pelras, craftsmen offering their services to collectors, sellers of accessories and miniatures, and artists complete the exhibition.
American Day
American Day (actually the entire weekend) is a major attraction at the Toulouse Auto-Moto Classic Show and draws many visitors. Outside, in front of the exhibition halls, a few special models are on display, including NASCAR cars, hot rods, and low-riders, around a stage dedicated to American music.
Further away, the large parking lot dedicated to American Day welcomes American cars belonging to enthusiasts from the region who have come to meet up and show off their cars. While Ford Mustangs and Corvettes dominate, representing almost every generation of these models, there are also other muscle cars, Chevrolet Camaros, Dodge Chargers, more classic sedans, SUVs, and even a few large pickups that must feel cramped on France’s narrow roads.
The “classic car” parking lot
A dedicated parking lot welcomes a wide variety of classic cars, from the popular 2CV and 4CV to sports cars such as Ferrari and Porsche, or less common models such as Venturi and TVR.
The photos on this page belong to Automobile-Museums. No use or reproduction is permitted without the prior written consent of the owner.