Retromobile 2025: top 10 highlights | Axon’s Automotive Anorak

Following on from my Anorak review last week of the various and many Citroën-derived highlights at the excellent 2025 edition of the Retromobile exhibition held earlier this month in Paris, below are a further notable top ten high points of the 49^th running of the classic car show.

1. Renault

 France’s largest car maker Renault used the occasion of Retromobile to introduce its wild mid-engined Filante 100 Concept Car in celebration of 100 years since its massive 40CV first broke a number of speed records at the banked Montlhery circuit in 1924.

Both of these unique record breakers were displayed side-by-side, as were the new electric Renault R4, new R5 and one-off modern retro R17 prototype, presented opposite their 1970s originals. On another stand, examples of Renault’s Alpine performance division displayed an example of the 19-build Zagato A110 TwinTail, shown alongside an original late 1960s A220 short tail endurance racer that inspired the latest Zagato creation.

2. Mazda MX-5

A special display marked 35 years since the legendary Mazda MX-5 was initially launched in France, one year after its successful debut in Japan, the US, the UK and most of mainland Europe.

As well as introducing the new MX-5 35^th Anniversary Special Edition model, Mazda also presented an original 1989 NA MX-5 (Roadster in Japan, Miata in the USA), one of just 179 fastback MB Coupés, made for the Japanese market only in 2003, plus the one-off Superlight roadster concept of 2009.

3. Matra

 Three-time Le Mans victor and winner of the 1969 Formula 1 World Championship for both Constructor and Driver (Jackie Stewart), Matra held a captivating celebration of its past glories with a trio of cars to promote its new electric bicycle range.

A pair of F1 Grand Prix cars (a MS 80 and MS 120) flanked a special production 1982 Matra Murena 2.2 S, a 233PS (172kW) mid-engined three-seater equipped with a one-off JPB body styling kit developed by Matra ex-Works F1 driver Jean-Pierre Beltoise.

4. Talbot-Lago

 A striking 1949 Talbot-Lago T25 Grand Sport Coupé with unique coachwork by Dubos Freres was a real exquisite find at Retromobile. The 1.5million Euro price tag was as eye watering as the car was eye-catching.

5. 1950s GTs

 A trio of outstanding exclusive Grand Tourers from the 1950s included a one-off Jaguar XK120, bodied by Barou of the Ardeche. Hidden away for nearly 50 years, this bespoke Jaguar participated in the 1950 Automobile Tour de France, plus  the 1951 Liege-Rome-Liege rally, in which it finished second overall. The coachbuilt XK120 was complemented by a very original Fiat 8V Series II, it currently being offered for sale and potentially the first post-war Fiat to fetch more than £1million.

Regular Goodwood participant, enthusiast and London classic car dealer, Gregor Fisken, offered a splendid 1950s James Young-bodied Bentley S1 ‘Honeymoon’ convertible for the ultimate in usable and luxurious British style.

6. Ferrari

Retromobile can always be relied upon to deliver a feast of fine Ferraris, and this year’s event was no exception. The Ferrari festival was book-ended by a desirable 1948 166 Spyder Corsa by Ansaloni with an impressive competition history, plus a ‘modern’ F40 looking especially appealing in an unusual pale metallic blue.

A fantastic 166 Panoramica Zagato, Touring of Milan’s coachbuilt  Superleggera Veloce12, the fiercesome ex-Mario Andretti 1971 312 PB V12, a stunning 250 LM, plus an arresting Ferrari-only display by renowned dealer and Goodwood supporter Max Girado were enough to make every Tifosi go weak at the knees.

7. Mercedes-Benz supercars

 Ordinarily I wouldn’t stop to take in a modern Mercedes-Benz, but it’s not often you get to see a pair of the Stuttgart marque’s supercars together, with a Mercedes-AMG One displayed alongside an example of the special Mercedes-McLaren SLR Moss Edition. For good measure, a spotless Pagani Zonda also bolstered the modern supercar content in the French capital with its AMG-sourced V12 engine.

8. Packard Reard ‘Yacht’

 Another only ever seen in books and on the internet, this crazy nautical themed Packard Super Eight, based on a 1937 chassis and built by Chapron of Paris in 1947, was a unique model commissioned by the inventor of the bikini – Louis Reard. Intended as a publicity vehicle to travel across France as a symbol of beach fun and freedom, this ‘yacht car’ was originally created to be based on a Delage D8-15 chassis, but ended up being fitted to a better-suited eight-cylinder Packard base, as the yacht car was very heavy.

Fitted with a sleek bow, portholes, mooring cleats, it even featured a mast erected in the centre of the rear cockpit to fly Reard's colours when on the road. Kept and used by Reard until 1976, the Packard yacht then became a popular museum piece for many years.

9. Delage

One of the great French grande routier makers, the proud Delage name has been revived with an extravagant new mid-engined D12 V12 supercar, displayed alongside a more demure example of a lovely Chapron-bodied late-1940s D8 120, more typical of this exclusive and sober marque.

10. McLaren F1

Geneva-based classic car specialist Simon Kidston had an impressive electrified vault as his stand, with an imposing white McLaren F1 as its centrepiece, suitably raised up on a plinth for all to admire. The McLaren was joined by a mouth-watering array of other exotic machinery, with a beautiful, Lancia Flaminia Sport Zagato being a personal favourite.

So, there you have it. My top ten selection from the amazing 2025 Retromobile.

Trying to condense the wealth of finery on display into just ten highlights was no easy task, as in addition to the extensive Citroën content, Retromobile also offered a mesmerising array of other exceptional vehicles, including a fascinating one-off Facel Vega FVS fastback prototype, a futuristic Tatra T77, a glorious Viotti-bodied Lancia Appia Cabriolet – I could go on for hours. I’ll be counting down the months until the 50^th edition of Retromobile in February 2026.

Images courtesy of Gary Axon.