Retromobile 2013

Ian Kirkwood writes; I am just back from my annual pilgrimage to Retromobile in Paris. As many of you will know I have been attending the show since 1991 and have gone from loving it, to hating it and back to loving it again! A few years ago the organisers changed the format, shortened the show and invited new Clubs to display. By doing this they have freshened the show up which has caused several of the manufacturers that had stopped attending to think again and now there is a good mix of manufacturers stands, club stands both old and new, auto-jumble, cars for sale, toys, restoration stands, the Artcurial auction and items that do not initially seem a natural fit but add to the eclectic mix. The L`Aventure Peugeot Museum stand featured 30 years of the 205. They had several examples on display, a 1994 XAD, a 1991 Roland Garros convertible and a 1989 1.9 GTI. The other models on the stand were; a 1982 504 Coupe, a 1979 104ZS, 1 1977 604SL, a 1973 304S Coupe, a 1966 404 Coupe, a 1958 403 cabriolet, a 1953 203 Coupe (my personal favourite), a 1953 203 Darl`Mat, a 1936 301D Coupe, a 1935 601DL Coach, a fabulous 1935 401 Eclipse, a 1949 P56 Velo and a 1963 Simca 1300. Also present were the Peugeot France Miniature association, the Museum had a shop where you could buy their vast range of collectibles and there was also the concept 2008 in vivid yellow fresh from the Paris Motor Show, I must say that our sister company Citroen had a very large presence at this year`s show but my favourite non PSA stand was, by a country mile, the Mercedes Benz stand that had three of their very early Benz racing machines on show. Throughout, the standard of cars has really gone up by several notches with many concours, rare examples on display everywhere you looked! My understanding is that from 2014 the show is returning to its spiritual home in Hall 1 at the Portes de Versailles exhibition centre (thank God no more steps in the middle of the hall!) as the existing facility gets redeveloped. Overall a brilliant show, in a great city, with lots to see and do!