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Retromobile Paris 2015: Wifredo Ricart Square

Rétromobile celebrated its 40th edition from February 4 to 8, 2015, with numerous incentives that dazzled its more than 100.000 visitors who came to Paris from all continents, according to unconfirmed figures from the organizer at the time of closing this chronicle.

In 1976, Rétromobile began its journey modestly with the intention of recreating the atmosphere of the Paris motor shows when they took place in the Grand Palais on the Champs Elysees.

A team of young enthusiasts, including François Melcion and Marc Nicolosi, also the creator of the Vitesse art gallery, began to organize the first editions in different locations until, having reached dimensions difficult to imagine at first, they launched into the assault on the Exhibition Park of the Porte de Versailles. There they have not stopped growing in the number of exhibitors and occupied surface, going from one pavilion to a larger one until reaching Pavilion number 1, the largest, with more than 40.000 useful m2.

retro mobile salon 2015
The only decent car in the scrap show was Alain Delon's Ferrari 250 California

In 2015, an increase in space was achieved with the occupation of the nearest Pavilion, number 2.1, to house part of the cars (sorry, the scrap metal) to be auctioned by the Artcurial house. Auction that achieved an unusual success, exceeding not the most optimistic, but most far-fetched, estimates of the organizer himself.

Artcurial and Rétromobile are linked In a way, since François Melcion went from the founding team of Rétromobile to be appointed director of Artcurial and later returned to the salon as director, a position he currently holds.

Other figures, museums, curators or collectors have contributed to the development of Rétromobile, such as Hervé Poulain or the Mulhouse Automobile Museum, which usually participates assiduously by donating copies of its important collections. Almost all the famous French pilots have paraded through Rétromobile in its different editions to tell about their experiences in the history of motoring.

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Incentives for all tastes

Among the 500 exhibitors, which included official representations of various brands, such as Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Skoda, Citroën, Peugeot and Renault, to name a few; National and international merchants, associations and clubs of historic vehicles and private exhibitors, highlighted the following:

The collection of the Italian Corrado Lopresto. An architect by profession, Lopresto is a well-known personality in elegance competitions and high-level exhibitions, who has devoted himself to his favorite hobby of collecting unique cars, manufactured in a single copy, prototypes or cars with a shared platform with others, but with unique body.

Lopresto also collects trophies earned for his cars at Pebble Beach, Villa d'Este, Amelia Island, and Goodwood. Among the cars presented at Rétromobile we will highlight an OSCA 1600 from 1961 for its resemblance to Pegaso due to its front cross and its Touring Superleggera bodywork;

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retro mobile salon 2015
One of the majestic Royale. We will teach you more and better in a couple of days

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The Mulhouse Automobile Museum, which had displaced no less than three Bugatti Royales (in addition to its Pegasus). It was the first time that the 3 Royale had been exhibited together at Rétromobile. The cars, of considerable dimensions and masses, 6 and a half meters long to support 3.000 kg, must be a record in terms of gross mass in the history of the automobile. The engine displacements are consistent, exceeding 12.000 cc.

The Royale in question They are known as the Napoleon Coupe, Park Ward Limousine and Esders Roadster (the latter after its first owner).

The Porsche dealership adorned its stand with the 936, the winning car of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1977, driven by Jacky Ickx and Jürgen Barth. On that occasion, Ickx had to replace Hurley Haywood to secure the victory for Porsche.

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Mercedes-Benz is always present with changing models from year to year. With a rich history of more than 125 years, the Stuttgart firm has more than enough resources to renew itself without repeating itself.

On this occasion, the German brand showed off its restoration capacity by presenting a forgotten car, the aerodynamic 540K from 1937 with aluminum bodywork that did not meet a destination in competition at the outbreak of World War II. However, the crowd favorite was a smaller, sportier 300 1952SL that looked much more lifelike. More than a restoration, the 540K looks like a new car built on original blueprints.

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Written by mario laguna

Mario Laguna, author of the book "The Pegaso Adventure", scholar and observer of the history of motor racing, brands and characters. Regular visitor to automobile competitions, whether of current or historical categories, international contests of elegance, lecturer ... Read more

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