Take the time this Valentine day to sit and relax with your beloved one to look back to the city of romance. Paris, Rétromobile is now a week behind us. Most mentioned of course the one hyping Ferrari record price against a background of less performing post-war sportscars. But that's none of our business at PreWarCar. We were all amazed about the record sale of a 1908 Sizaire Naudin at Euro 120,000 by Artcurial. Or like Jim Kruse put it "a record price for a non Brighton era one cylinder two seater" (haha, he should consider a next career and change from car insurances to auctions). Anyway, we will guide you along a few highlights as we have seen them.
The Lorraine Dietrich pick-up (check engine) 'bodied' by Martin Otto Lambert Heukeshoven (scrap artist par excellence). For sure less rusty is the perfectly rebodied Amilcar CGS3 in the style of Jacques Henri Lartigue's car. Note the suggestive extra long bonnet and stylish painted wheeldiscs. Nearly the same vintage has the ultra rare end twenties Harris Leon Laisne with avantgarde suspension as later seen - among others - on the 2CV. Now we go back another 10 years in history with the jawdropping beautiful 1914 Mercedes 28/95 Phaeton presented by Axel Schuette. Rumours say that the car has a price tag of 15 million Euros which seems fair in view of the 32,000,000 Euros that was paid for a Ferrari. Somewhat closer to our own wallet - if it was for sale which it wasn't - and due to that one of our personal favourites was the low slung 1910 Gregoire 70/4 13/18HP speedster. Another few years back - yet on our way surprised by a threesome unidentified invaders form Mars - we were stopped by the holy grail of big bore Renault fans: the 1907 Renault GP known from le Circuit de Sarthe ACF. You have been overflooded with photos and videos of the record cars that came in from the UK, but we're not so sure you saw these golden jewels, the sparkplugs of the Beast of Turin. Yes we are still going back in history. Probably many of you have seen them in the Compiegne Museum but we were delighted to put it mildly to see these 'pre-Benz' automotive dinosaurs. The refined steamer 'boudoir' , the 1878 (!!!) Amédée Bollée Père 'La Mancelle' and the incredible double-diligence, the 1885 Amédée Bollée Père. Ah, this is Paris, not a single boring corner, never a dull moment. Even when leaving the show exhausted you're entertained. Like opposite the Salon entering Rue de Vaugirard you will very soon look into this Garage Find. After 7 days we feel homesick for Retro already. Still 51 weeks to wait for the 2017 edition, 8-12 February. Better said as Février.
(photos Hubertus Hamsmann)