Classic Cars and Dreams Collide at Retromobile 2025

Some cars are just vehicles, but others tell a story and this is where the magic happens.

Fez– The Retromobile expo is back, and this year it was bigger than ever! Paris Expo Porte de Versailles turned into a paradise for car lovers this past week, with rare beauties, passionate collectors, and history on wheels.

Walking through this vintage car expo feels like stepping into a time machine. One moment, you’re staring at a stunning 1967 emerald green Porsche 911, the next, you’re admiring an elegant Bentley Type S Continental once owned by Helmut Newton.

The magic of this event? Not only was it an opportunity to admire, but dream, learn about the cars, and even buy one.

Worried about the price tag? Retromobile has something for everyone. Some cars go for millions, but one stand offers gems for under €30,000, perfect for first-time buyers or new collectors.

“There’s a car for every taste and budget,” said Matthieu Lamoure from Artcurial auction house to Euronews. This year, the auction house offered over 120 cars, raking in a total of €24.6 million.

Gathering collectors from every corner

Retromobile attracts people from all walks of life. From a worker restoring his dream car to top executives with million-euro collections, the love for classic cars has no borders.

“Japanese, Americans, Thais, Europeans, this show is the place to be,” said Emmanuel Denis, a collector of vintage car posters, to the European outlet.

And exhibitors love it. Artcurial Motorcars auctioneers alone bring in 37% of the company’s total sales from this event.

Every car here has a story. The star? The legendary Citroën DS, a rolling piece of history celebrating its 70th birthday in style among 1,200 collector cars and 550 exhibitors.T

Eleven historic models were on display, reminding visitors why this car became a French icon.

Formula 1 fans had their moment too, with a special exhibition tracing French F1 history from the 1960s to today.

This year, sixteen legendary race cars stood side by side, a first for Retromobile.

The expo saw over 150,000 visitors walk through the doors, breaking all previous records. Many came for the cars but stayed for the nostalgia, the love of real engines, beautiful designs, and the history that makes each model special.

While the crowd was mostly made up of middle-aged men, Retromobile says it is working hard to bring in more women and young people.

“We want this passion to live on,” says Romain Grabowski, the show’s director. “We’re bringing history to life in a fresh, immersive way.”

And they’re going global! In 2026, for the first time ever, Retromobile will hit New York, bringing classic car culture to the US from November 19 to 22.

One thing is clear, Retromobile is the place where the past meets the future on four wheels.