10 awesome classic cars from Rétromobile 2017

An exotic classic car never fails to please the eye, so thousands of enthusiasts were spoiled for choice recently when they flocked to the Rétromobile 2017 show to drool over a huge collection of historic automobiles.

The annual season-opener is France’s leading classic event, and takes place every winter at Paris’s Porte de Versailles show halls. Special displays celebrated everything from Ferrari at 70 to the Aston Martin DB era, alongside stunning line-ups of F1 cars, Delage pre-war racers, wartime tanks and much, much more.

Naturally, French manufacturers were strongly represented; here is our top 10 of the models on show:

10. Renault 4CV

Built for the traffic police, this 1957 Quatrelle was one 75 specially equipped in-period with 12-volt power and an extra battery to power the radio-telephone. Renault wasn’t happy about the transformation, however, so it discontinued the line. This 4CV was displayed with a pair of handcuffs hanging from the seat-rail.

9. Delahaye 135

One of only six Figoni et Falaschi-bodied models created by the French coachbuilder in 1936, this stunning Delahaye 135 is a short-chassis competition cabriolet. With chassis number 46837, it boasts a 3.5-litre ‘competition’ straight-six engine, and auction house Artcurial was advertising it with an estimate of €1.2 million -€1.8million.

8. Delage D8S

This magnificent 1930 Delage D8S was built for the Maharaja of Holkar. With coachwork by Figoni, it boasts a mighty 4060cc straight-eight motor, four-speed gearbox and servo-assisted brakes. Such sophistication for its era.

7. Alpine A106

Rétromobile was the launchpad for the latest Alpine, but its historic counterpart drew just as much admiration. The 4CV-based and Marquis-inspired A106 was the first of the lightweight rear-engined cars built for Dieppe Renault dealer Jean Rédélé in 1955. It inspired the formation of Alpine that summer, and the maker’s first car went on display at the following October’s Paris Salon. By 1959, 251 examples of these first-generation Alpines had been built.

6. Ballot 3/8 LC

In 1919, Ernest Ballot and Ernest Henry entered the Indianapolis 500 with four 5.0-litre cars they’d conceived and built in only 102 days. The poor build quality of the American wheels robbed them of victory, but they were back the next year; this Ballot 3/8 LC came seventh at Indy with Jean Chassagne, and went on to have an impressive Grand Prix career.

5. Chausson CHS

During the war, French coach maker Chausson dreamed up a fascinating microcar that sadly never came to production fruition. This sole road-going CHS prototype was clandestinely built in occupied France, but thwarted by a lack of raw materials the company sold it to England’s Tom Delaney. He encountered the same issues, and the car was never built. A member of the Chausson family bought it in auction in 2012.

4. Renault 5 Maxi Turbo

A sensational selection of Group B rally cars was one of the stand-out displays of Rétromobile 2017. This ex-Francois Chatriot Renault 5 Maxi Turbo starred in the line-up, which also included an Audi Quattro, Peugeot T16, Ford RS200, Nissan 240RS, Lancia Delta S4 and 037, and Ferrari 308 Michelotto.