With its Parisian glitz and glamour, Rétromobile has been the catwalk for cars since the mid-1970s – and it’s still strutting its stuff nearly 50 years on, finds motoring journalist, Mark Whitchurch

Rétromobile 2025 kicked off the European car show season in style last week, underscoring its reputation as the one annual expo nobody wants to miss.

Staged in Paris since 1976, the event brought the usual glitz, glamour, and je ne sais quoi you would expect from, in my view, the world’s greatest car show.

Set over three halls at the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre, this year’s event – from 4th – 9th February – saw manufacturers, dealers, brokers and enthusiasts descend on the French capital in a shared love of classic, rare, and hyper cars.

International collectors also visited two new venues, Bonhams and RM Sotheby’s, where the latter sold a 1964 Ferrari 250 LM, which won Le Mans, for €34.88m, followed by the sale of a 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 R Streamliner for €51.15m. Both cars, offered by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, highlighted the strength of the top end of the collector car market.

French auction partner Artcurial also hosted its own on-site auction.

Rétromobile isn’t solely about billionaire lifestyles—it always retains a distinctly French flavour. This year featured a display of inter-war Citroën Kégresse half-tracks and a 70th-anniversary celebration of the Citroën DS, complete with a recreation of the famous DS balloon car from 1959 that showcased its revolutionary hydropneumatics suspension.

Leading European collector car dealers also use Rétromobile to present their latest offerings, giving enthusiasts a chance to see—and, for the lucky few, a chance to buy—the car of their dreams in one venue. The Fiskens London Mews showroom was featured in a prime spot, including F1 World Champion Jenson Button’s 1952 Jaguar C-Type. With its bronze body and racing pedigree (originally owned by five-time F1 champion Juan Manuel Fangio), and its pioneering use of disk brakes, this car stands out as a highly desirable piece of motoring history.

Girardo & Co also put together a collection of significant Ferraris. Their stand included the ex-Gerhard Berger Grand Prix-winning 1987 Ferrari F1-87, an ex-factory Ferrari 375 Plus from 1954, and one of only 75 examples of the 1960 Competizione Ferrari 250 GT SWB.

Swiss dealer Simon Kidston drew attention with a well-preserved 1995 McLaren F1 in Marlboro White with just 1,290 km on the clock, along with an extremely rare Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spider. One of only 10, built, Steve McQueen used one to impress Faye Dunaway in The Thomas Crown Affair. However, it was the original factory black-on-black Porsche 911 2.7 RS that was our star of the stand—not the rarest or most expensive, but the best smiles for the miles, in my view.

RM Sotheby’s also introduced their new bespoke online sales platform, Sealed. After discreetly handling the final production McLaren F1, they are now managing an ex-Michael Schumacher Ferrari F355 through this system, which offers the benefits of online auctions while keeping the final sale price private.

For fans of pre-war exotics, Lucas Huni presented a range of classic cars, including a 1938 Bugatti Type 57C and a 1926 Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix once raced by Elisabeth Junek. Along with Mille Miglia Alfa Romeos, Carrera Panamericana Ferraris, and a Sebring-winning Jaguar D-Type, these cars delivered a powerful reminder of motoring history.

Modern hypercars also featured prominently. London’s Joe Macari showcased a selection aimed at the Instagram generation—a nearly new Maserati MC12, an Aston Martin Valkyrie with exposed purple carbon-fibre and gold detailing, and my personal pick: a classic Aston Martin DB5 Volante with original red leather and patina.

Major manufacturers use Rétromobile to connect their current models to their storied pasts. Renault showed a concept based on a vintage racer, Porsche highlighted the evolution of the 911, and Mercedes-Benz promoted its heritage with a bare-metal 300SL Gullwing.

Lennard Foerster of Mercedes-Benz, who had just completed the sale of a rare manual R107 SL, explained that Mercedes-Benz is expanding its restoration facilities to meet modern needs while honouring its history. He told me: “Mercedes Benz is looking to build its restoration capabilities to service customer needs whilst maintaining the company’s vast heritage”.

Whilst the market generally continues to shy away from pre-war cars, there is still a few choice machines that collectors still wish to have in their collections. I counted six rare Bugatti Type 59s in various states, including the ex-King of Belgium’s car—which recently won at the Pebble Beach Concours in the preservation class, marking a first for a non-restored car and a European collector.

I even got behind the wheel of a 1933 Bugatti Type 59 (Frame 8), courtesy of Phoenix Green Garage. Having raced in the 1936 Monaco Grand Prix, this car is a striking example of how automotive design can verge on fine art.

As these historic vehicles rise in value, many owners are reluctant to put them on the road. Events like Goodwood sometimes offer a rare chance to see them in action, but most remain preserved. After all, would you really drive a 1960 Ferrari 250 California Spider worth €16.5m on the road?

But what if you could have a “toolroom” copy for a fraction of the price? Modern engineers are making that possible. Timothy Dutton of British specialist Ivan Dutton Ltd showed me their 1960 Ferrari 250 California Spider replica—converted from a less-desirable PF Coupe over 3,000 hours of work. It recently completed a 4,000-kilometre tour across Europe. There’s a balance between authenticity and usability, but as Timothy points out, cars are meant to be driven.

Even major manufacturers are keeping their heritage alive. Matthew Doughty at Bentley kindly walked me through the new 1930 Speed Six Continuation Series. One of 12, these track only machines are near exact re-creations of the Bentley used to win Le Mans of that year by Woolf Barnato and Glen Kidston.

The Restomod trend – using modern materials and technology to make old cars fit modern day life – was also in full swing. It’s a wide genre, but can be as simple as an engine swap, or as complex as rebodying a car in pure carbon-fibre. Broad Arrow Private Sales offered two mint-green examples: a 1988 Porsche 911 remade by Lanzante with a 1986 1.5-litre TAG Porsche F1 engine, and a 2024 RUF CTR—a Porsche 911 silhouette powered by a 710bhp flat-six turbo engine. Another restomod to note was the Kimera EVO37, a modern take on a 1980s Lancia 037 rally car built with carbon-fibre and contemporary engineering.

In the smaller halls of Rétromobile, you can find everything from art celebrating motoring history and vintage petrol pumps to clothing that signals your favourite marque. And, as expected at a French event, food and drink were plentiful—crepes, fine wine, and pastries helped keep visitors refreshed as they explored stands dedicated to brands like Delage, Matra, Simca, and Facel Vega.

Rétromobile, with its unmistakable French style, is a clear reminder that our interest in motoring history remains strong. Brokers, dealers, and bespoke specialists cater to a wide range of tastes and styles.

The car of the show for me? A 1965 Mini Cooper S in original condition with just 36,000 km on the clock. I bet it could tell a good story or two.

Mark G. Whitchurch is a seasoned motoring journalist whose work—covering road tests, launch reports, scenic drives, major races, and event reviews—has appeared in The Observer, Daily Telegraph, Bristol Evening Post, Classic & Sports Car Magazine, Mini Magazine, Classic Car Weekly, AutoCar Magazine, and the Western Daily Press, among others. He won the Tourism Malaysia Regional Travel Writer of the Year in 2003 and is a member The Guild of Motoring Writers.