Chapron Citroëns at Retro

The first DS cabriolet shaped by Chapron was called ‘La Croisette’ for the famous pedestrian promenade in Cannes in the south of France. First shown at the 1958 Paris Salon, this version was built until 1962. Here is a 1961 example based on a DS 19.

A coach appeared in 1959 and was called ‘Le Paris’, only produced in 9 units until 1960.

Here is a 1963 version of the coach ‘Concorde’.

In 1960, Henri Chapron extended his offerings with a cabriolet 2+2 called ‘Le Caddy’. 34 units were produced between 1960 and 1968.

A 2+2 coupé was showed for the first time at the 1960 Paris Salon, the DS ‘Le Dandy’. Some fifty of these cars were built between 1960 and 1968.

The ‘Palm Beach’ four seater cabriolet appeared in 1963 as a replacement of the ‘La Croisette’.

A new four seater coach was presented at the 1966 Geneva Motor Show and appropriately called ‘Le Léman’, here on a 1967 DS 21.

Alongside the transformations operated by Chapron on the DS, the coachbuilder from Levallois, near Paris, also built for Citroën what is called the ‘cabriolet usine’ or works cabriolet between 1961 and 1971. This version was part of the official Citroën range.

Apart from the various cabriolets, coaches or coupés, a sedan was also proposed by Chapron, called ‘Majesty’. Here is a 1966 model.

In 1969, the ‘Majesty’ gave way to a new sedan called ‘Lorraine’. Only 19 examples were produced until 1974.

In 1971, Chapron tried to expand his line with a cabriolet version of the SM, called ‘Mylord’. But its high cost and the oil crisis will compromise its success and only six examples were built.

Hell hath no fury like…that of a woman scorned. In 1960, the coach ‘Le Paris’ is replaced by the ‘Concorde’. This particular car, from 1964, was vandalized by the wife of the owner during their separation and has never been restored …

This tricycle from the Italian company Prinetti & Stucchi of Milan dates back to 1899. It is with this company that the young Ettore Bugatti began his career in the automotive world. He modified the tricycle by adding a second engine and took part with some success to some competitions in Italy and France.

From the same year is the famous ‘La Jamais Contente’, the first car to reach 100 km per hour. Conceived and driven by Belgian Camille Jenatzy, it was so modern for the time with its aerodynamic body and its electric powertrain. It is presented here by the ‘Musée de Compiègne’, near Paris where it is usually exhibited.

Twenty years later, the famous Bentley make was born. Here is the oldest surviving Bentley, known as EXP2 because of being the second Bentley built, a 3 Liter model presented at the 1919 Olympia Motor Show. Bentley celebrates its centenary this year and will be featured in many classic car events around the globe.

Every show has to have its ‘barn find’ exhibit. Here is a 1952 Aston Martin DB2 that will be restored after a thirty year sleep.

London based classic car dealer Fiskens was showing a pair of Aston Martins DB4 GTs. Here is serial number 0124R, the first of eight lightweight DB4 GTs, delivered new to Equipe Endeavour and driven to victory at Goodwood by Stirling Moss in 1960.

The second DB4 GT is one of 19 DB4 GT Zagatos, serial number 0181L, delivered new to Dr Elio Zagato, son of the founder of the Zagato company, Ugo Zagato. The car has some unique features like the bonnet with an air scoop rather than the usual triple humps.

Aston Martin Works was showing a partially restored 1963 DB4 Convertible. Only 70 DB4 Convertibles were produced and this one is the sole to be powered by a DB4 GT engine. It is currently being restored in Newport Pagnell, at the same location where it has been built 56 years ago.

This 1963 AC Cobra was a works entry at Le Mans in 1963. Driven by Sanderson and Bolton, it finished 7th and first in the 4 to 5 liter class. Later sold to John Willment’s race team, it was campaigned in 1964 by British gentleman driver Jack Sears.

The Ford GT40 succeeded to the Cobra on the race tracks. This example is numbered GT40 P/1087. It seems that John Willment, who owned the rights to the JWA name, had enough parts to build some more Mark I GT40’s after the works production ceased. This is one of these cars.

The last attempt of Ford in endurance racing was with the P68 built by Alan Mann for the 1968 season. Here is one of two surviving examples.

This is a very special Jaguar XK120, bodied by Stabilimenti Farina. It was an order from the Belgian Jaguar importer to star on the Jaguar stand at the 1952 Brussels Motor Show.

A pair of BRM Formula 1 cars were on sale by William I’Anson. Wearing #48 is the P48 driven by Dan Gurney in 1960. Gurney won a race in Australia with this car. Number 5 is the 1962 P578 driven by Richie Ginther in 1962 and 1963. Ginther was second in the 1962 F1 World Championship with this car.

A strong field of Porsche competition cars was on show at Rétromobile. Among them, this Porsche 904, 904-108, with its 1964 Tour de France livery when it finished third overall with Buchet/Linge.

In 1966, the same Robert Buchet bought 906-114. He took part in Le Mans with it but did not finish. The car then had a successful career in France and is still active in historic racing.

This 1969 Porsche 908/02 s/n 009 was entered in endurance races in 1969 and 1970 with considerable success with Rudi Lins, Gérard Larrousse and Helmut Marko behind the wheel.

The Porsche 917-037 has the particularity to be registered in Monaco and can be driven on open roads.

This Porsche 936 is the fifth and last 936 built, not by the works but by the Kremer brothers. It was driven in period by Rolf Stommelen and Stefan Bellof.