Salon RétroMobile 2018

Ferraris at Retromobile 2018.   This is a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta driven by Pedro and Ricardo Rodriguez..

As usual there was something for everyone at the 2018 Salon Retromobile.  It was the 43rd edition and whatever is your era of classic cars there was something for you.  Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Bentley, Citroen, Ferrari, Gordini, Jaguar, Maserati, Mercedes, Peugeot, and Renault were all represented in abundance.  So too were cars driven or built by the famous French driver Jean-Pierre Wimille.  There was the usual Artcurial auction.  Also playing a starring role were record breaking vehicles from Montlhéry.   Remember what you enjoyed or find out what you missed below:

A highlight of the show for me was the tribute to Carlo Abarth with many vehicles from Engelbert Möll's Swiss collection.  Abarth was an Italian racing car marque founded by Carlo Abarth in 1949 who had bought the assets of Cisitalia.  The company produced many successful sports racing cars and hillclimb cars and was bought out by Fiat in 1971.   The logo was a scorpion.   As well as the well known sports racing cars there was a record breaking monoposto present and many road cars as well.  A nice tribute.

A beautiful Abarth OT 2000 Periscopio 137C.   The periscope device helped cool the cockpit.

1971 Abarth 3000 Sport Prototipo SEO22.  This car was driven by Johannes Ortner to win the European Hillclimb championship.

1965 Abarth 2000 Monoposto Record SE08.   This car took a number of World Records driven by Carlo Abarth himself and Johannes Ortner.

1974 Abarth 2000 Prototipo Pininfarina SE027.

1963 Abarth Simca 2 Mila 6 Gear 136S.

1966 Fiat Abarth 1000 SE04

1962 Fiat Abarth 1000 Bialbero Le Mans T130S

1971 Abarth 2000 Spider Prototipo SE021.  An ex-Arturo Merzario car.

There were lots of lovely cars for sale in the Artcurial auction, including another Abarth.

1968 Abarth 1000 SP barquette.

1952 Grand Prix Gordini Type 16 ready for auction.

More cars for auction including this lovely 1929 Amilcar CGSS.

For more about this Amilcar CGSS, click here.

Record cars from the Autodrome Linas-Montlhéry were in abundance.

Panhard & Levassor 35CV.  A modified 1926 car it was driven by the famous British driver George Eyston at an average speed of 214kph for one hour at Montlhéry in 1934.

A replica of the 1933 Citroën Petite Rosalie record car.

In 1953 a Citröen 2CV Barbot of just 350cc was driven at an average speed of 85kph over 24 hours.  This is a replica of the 1953 car.

Jean-Pierre Wimille was one of the greatest French drivers of the thirties and forties until he was killed in the 1949 Buenos Aires GP.  This brought to an end a successful racing career and also the road car project he had started.

1938 Alfa Romeo Tipo 308. Wimille took three victories with this car between 1946 and 1948.  In the background is a Wimille road car and a Gordini Type 11 racing car.

The last pre-war racing Bugatti, the 1939 4.7 litre 59/50B was driven by Wimille to win the first post-war race event in Europe in the Bois de Boulogne.  It was also the car that he drove at Shelsley Walsh in 1939.

The futuristic 1949 Wimille 03 Cyclope prototype road car.

Renault who are celebrating their 120th year had their usual big stand at Retromobile.

Renault Alpines A443, A442 and A442B.

Reminders of some famous Alpine Renault Le Mans drivers.

The first ever Parisian Taxi, a 1910 Renault Type AG1

An 1899 Renault type B

There was much to enjoy on the other stands as well:

Renault Type AG

1900 Renault Type C racing car.

The ACO stand celebrating the 1928 Le Mans 24 hours.  The cars are a Tracta and a Salmson.   

1979 ATS D3 Formula One car.

Peugeot Special Sport 302

A precursor to the Jaguar marque - a 1936 SS100.

ex-Jean Behra Maserati 250F and Ferrari 275GTB.

Ferrari, Bentley, Mclaren, BRM.

Maserati, Riley, Mclaren, OSCA.

Alfa Romeos - 308 and 158.

Bugatti, Peugeot, Amilcar and Delehaye.

Sports Racing Cars

Formula One.

John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page.