Wheels Through The Ages

Retromobile Paris is a dreamland of vintage cars, rare motorcycles, trucks, armored vehicles, stunning art, and more. It's one epic exhibition! This year, there were 12 cars that really stood out among the extensive collection.

1970 Mercedes-Benz C111

Mercedes-Benz never intended to sell the C111 to the public. This striking orange experimental vehicle was developed primarily as a testbed for new technologies. But it became one of the most tantalizing "what-ifs" in automotive history. The gullwing-doored wonder displayed a fiberglass body.

Retromobile 2025 by Armand Modeles 36

1970 Mercedes-Benz C111 (Cont.)

It initially housed various iterations of Wankel rotary engines. Through these iterations developed in the 1970s, the C111 set multiple speed records at Italy's Nardo Ring. In their museum collection, Mercedes-Benz also preserved several examples, allowing modern enthusiasts rare glimpses of this masterpiece.

Best Classic cars at RETROMOBILE PARIS 2025 by Classic Spotter

1959 Ferrari 250GT SWB Show Car

The mesmerizing Ferrari 250GT SWB represents one of the most significant GT cars in automotive history. Introduced in 1959, the Short Wheelbase Berlinetta combined racing capability with road-going comfort. These hand-built masterpieces had either steel or aluminum bodywork.

Best Classic cars at RETROMOBILE PARIS 2025 by Classic Spotter

1959 Ferrari 250GT SWB Show Car (Cont.)

The same was crafted by Pininfarina, with curvaceous lines. The 3.0-liter Colombo V12 engine powered these lightweight GT cars to numerous racing victories, including GT-class wins at Le Mans. Ferrari produced approximately 167 SWB Berlinettas between 1959 and 1962. 

Best Classic cars at RETROMOBILE PARIS 2025 by Classic Spotter

1996 Toyota RAV4 EV

Toyota's electric vehicle trailblazer is now hanging out with the automotive legends at Retromobile. In the 90s, when California pushed for zero emissions, Toyota rolled out an all-electric version of its popular RAV4 compact SUV. It had nickel-metal hydride batteries.

How Classic Cars Can Help Us Fix The Future| RetroMobile Paris 2025 by Retro Garage

1996 Toyota RAV4 EV (Cont.)

The company built these vehicles in limited numbers, primarily for fleet use and lease programs in California. When regulations changed, many were recalled and destroyed. The RAV4 EV featured an AC induction motor with a top speed limited to 137 km/h.

Retromobile 2025 | Here's why it's worth stopping by by Gazzetta Motori

1959 Lancia Flaminia Sport Zagato Sperimentale

Beneath the "double bubble" roof, there's an interesting tale of Italian craftsmanship and car innovation. The Lancia Flaminia Sport Zagato is a result of teamwork between two famous Italian companies, with Zagato’s lightweight aluminum body wrapping around Lancia’s mechanics.

Best Classic cars at RETROMOBILE PARIS 2025 by Classic Spotter

1959 Lancia Flaminia Sport Zagato Sperimentale (Cont.)

The Flaminia Sport Zagato included rare prototypes, one possibly dubbed ‘Sperimentale’ for its aerodynamic tweaks. It showcases experimental aerodynamic elements and styling cues that differentiate it from regular Flaminia Sports. The Flaminia was powered by a V6 engine developed by legendary engineer Vittorio Jano.

2025 Retromobile in Paris (part 1 of 2) by Lancia Living

1980 Matra Murena JPB

This French sports car represents Matra's approach to vehicle design, influenced by the company's aerospace and racing heritage. The Murena JPB, likely a custom or performance-enhanced variant named after a tuner or owner, had upgrades like improved suspension or engine tuning over the standard model.

Best Classic cars at RETROMOBILE PARIS 2025 by Classic Spotter

1980 Matra Murena JPB (Cont.) 

It came with two main engine options: a 1.6-liter SIMCA 1100 engine and a more powerful 2.2-liter SIMCA Type 180 engine. The Murena additionally used a hot-dipped galvanized chassis to prevent rust, which was a huge improvement over earlier Matra models.

Charles01, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

1937/1948 Packard Super Eight “Yacht”

Louis Reard commissioned the 1937/1948 Packard Super Eight "Yacht" as a special vehicle to advertise his swimwear around France and Europe. The car was designed and built by the well-known French coachbuilder Henri Chapron in 1948.

Retromobile Parijs 2025 by Chris & ies

1937/1948 Packard Super Eight “Yacht” (Cont.)

Initially intended to be based on a Hotchkiss chassis, it was ultimately constructed on a 1937 Packard Super Eight chassis. This was chosen for its powerful eight-cylinder engine. The vehicle also features a nautical theme, a bow-shaped nose, porthole windows, and a luxurious rear deck.

Retromobile Parijs 2025 by Chris & ies

1974 Stutz Blackhawk

The Stutz Blackhawk was made by hand in Italy, first at Officine Padane in Modena and later at Carrozzeria Saturn in Cavallermaggiore. The automobile was developed by Virgil Exner, a designer who had worked at Chrysler before.

Retromobile 2025 by Armand Modeles 36

1974 Stutz Blackhawk (Cont.)

The 1974 model had a notchback coupe body layout incorporating freestanding headlamps and a spare tire sticking out through the trunk lid. It was equipped with a 7.5 L (455 in³) V8 engine, sourced from Pontiac, which cranked out approximately 431 HP.

Retromobile 2025 by Armand Modeles 36

1933 Mercedes-Benz 710 Super Sport Cabriolet A

The economic struggles of the Great Depression didn't stop Mercedes-Benz from crafting this beast. Among the classic rides at Retromobile, this cabriolet stands out as a peak example of German engineering from the 1930s. With a 7.1-liter supercharged engine, it delivered incredible power and torque.

Best Classic cars at RETROMOBILE PARIS 2025 by Classic Spotter

1933 Mercedes-Benz 710 Super Sport Cabriolet A (Cont.)

It typically used a four-speed manual transmission and was rear-wheel drive. The body was often made by established coachbuilders, such as Saoutchik of Paris, and had a lightweight aluminum construction mounted on a sturdy ladder frame chassis.

2025 Retromobile in Paris (part 1 of 2) by Lancia Living

1963 Simca Isabelle

Designed to compete with the Mini, the 1963 Simca Isabelle, also called the Simca 936, was a concept vehicle. It was part of a proposal to build a small, compact car that would be able to compete in the early 1960s mini-car market that was growing in Europe. 

La « R5 » de Simca a Retromobile 2025 by @caradisiac

1963 Simca Isabelle (Cont.)

Interestingly, this project was nicknamed "Isabelle," reflecting its intended appeal as a modern, user-friendly car. Simca models from that era typically displayed small displacement engines, such as the 944 cc engine used in the Simca 1000, which produced about 50 hp.

La « R5 » de Simca a Retromobile 2025 by @caradisiac

1971 Skoda 110 Super Sport Ferat

A major factor in the ongoing mystique of this Skoda concept automobile is its cinematic past. The futuristic wedge-shaped prototype appeared in the cult Czech film Ferat Vampire (1982) as a vampire's vehicle, appearing at Retromobile 2025 for its cinematic legacy.

Retromobile 2025 | Here's why it's worth stopping by by Gazzetta Motori

1971 Skoda 110 Super Sport Ferat (Cont.)

Originally developed in 1971 as a styling exercise by Skoda's design department, the 110 Super Sport had gullwing doors, pop-up headlights, and a mid-mounted engine derived from the company’s production models. The car could reach speeds of up to 180 km/h.

Retromobile 2025 | Here's why it's worth stopping by by Gazzetta Motori

1922 Citroen Kegresse K1

The 1922 Citroen-Kegresse K1 was an early half-track vehicle brought to existence by Citroen with the help of French engineer Adolphe Kegresse. It was based on the Citroen Type B2, a 10 HP car that got a makeover to include Kegresse's cool half-track system.

Retromobile Parijs 2025 by Chris & ies

1922 Citroen Kegresse K1 (Cont.)

One of its characteristics was a 1,500 cm³ (91 cubic inches) four-cylinder engine that generated roughly 10 horsepower. Apparently, in 1922, the Citroen-Kegresse K1 was used for the first successful crossing of the Sahara Desert, demonstrating its capability in extreme conditions.

Retromobile Parijs 2025 by Chris & ies

1937 Delage D8

Initially powered by a 4061 cc straight-eight engine, later models saw variations in engine size and power output. The Delage D8 was produced from 1929 to 1940 and was available in coupe, cabriolet, sedan/saloon, and roadster.

James Emery from Douglasville, United States, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1937 Delage D8 (Cont.)

These cars were often made by coachbuilders like Letourneur et Marchand and Chapron. By October 1937, Delage was showing off the D8-120 model at the Paris Motor Show. It was basically a D8-100 but with a 4 mm bump in the cylinder diameter. 

mark6mauno, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons