Salon Retromobile 2022

In mid-March, we moved the Elferspot office to the road and took a road trip to Paris. The destination was Salon Retromobile 2022, France’s largest car show. In the middle of the metropolis, nestled among tourist attractions, the traditional start of the year trade fair has been held there for over 40 years. Normally held in early February, this year it took place in March. We take you on a journey through the hallowed halls. They were packed with great classics, savoir vivre and, of course, a large selection of Porsche sports cars.

This fair is a small cosmos of its own

Based at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, Salon Retromobile is considered the first major car show of the year in France. The suppliers are logically mainly from France, but peppered with many big players. The audience is international, one also meets many German- and English-speaking visitors in Pavilion 7 of the fairgrounds in the 15th arrondissement.

First impressions are colorful, very colorful. In addition to lovers of classic sports cars built in Zuffenhausen, fans of French brands such as Alpine, Renault and Peugeot naturally get their money’s worth here. It was also great to finally be able to visit a show without wearing masks again. On the two floors of the exhibition area, which is well worth seeing, even school classes can be found alongside dealers and car enthusiasts. Teach them young…

The Retromobile has more to offer than just cars

Of course, our beloved classics play the leading role at the Retromobile. But there is much more to discover beyond that. It’s no surprise, that racing souvenirs and spare parts are just as much a part of the show as Porsche club booths. But a good wine also goes well with a good classic – which is why there is also a range of fine wines at the Retromobile. It thus invites visitors to linger with typical French hospitality.

Wine package LUFTGEKÜHLT

Details

In addition to many racing memorabilia – especially from Le Mans, Porsche’s second home – there was also a lot of art to admire. Paintings, prints and, above all, sculptures such as the very cool racing suitcases livened up the exhibition. In general, the impression was that the Retromobile, like its exhibitors, had retained a good sense of humor.

Fans of historic racing cars get their money’s worth

The fact that Le Mans enjoys a very special status in France is also noticeable at Retromobile. If you’ve always wanted to admire a Porsche 907, 917 or a 911 3.0 Carrera RSR in person, you’ve come to the right place. From Group B and C to classic Formula 1 cars of the golden era, everything is on offer here. Even away from the Porsche brand, you can learn a lot about motorsport here.

As befits a good motor show, there is of course also a huge selection of model cars to admire. The sheer quantity of different miniature editions of Porsche 911 RSR or 935 is absolutely incredible. We can report from experience that you can easily spend half an hour strolling from showcase to showcase with big googly eyes.

Of course, you can also buy cars at the Salon Retromobile

As just mentioned, there was a whole range of exciting exhibits to see. In addition to a handful of Guards Red Carrera 3.2 Speedsters, the spectrum ranged from freshly restored F models to 356s and 928s to 997 Sport Classic and 911 R. And those who really get carried away by the trade show fever can also bid at the auction on site.

Salon Retromobile in Paris is definitely worth a visit. It is very diverse and varied. Thanks to that multi-layered combination of suppliers, it also has a lot to offer beyond the Porsche cosmos. And of course Paris is also worth a trip. At best, you combine the trip, doing some sightseeing with your better half.