Retromobile 2026

The 2026 50th aniversary edition of Retromobile was celebrated with a very special feat: The Bugatti AutoRail was brought from the Cité du Train in Mulhouse to Paris. It was the centre piece of the entire Retromobile, and of course also the largest item that had ever been displayed on the show. A series of unique Bugatti's from the Musée National de l'Automobile, also in Mulhouse "decorated" the fastest train of the 1930's.

This year I went for two days, leaving early from home, the train brought me to the Gare du Nord shortly before 13.00, and I was at the Retro before half passed one. As it was opened until 8 PM, that gave me quite a bit of time to walk around, and talk to several people. And; there was no queue to get in, as there was the second day when I arrived (at the queue) around 10.30...

The number of Bugatti's was again impressive, with over 30 Automobiles, plus of course a train, Baby Bugatti's, miniatures, new books (The Spanish book and the book on the Baby's by Jean Pascal Viault), parts, art and miniatures. See for yourself on this page.

And then there were the many people I met, some I've known for many years, others that were totally new to me. As I was at Retro two days now, I could take the time to have proper conversations with many of them. I heard a nice story of people who encounter, between the Bugatti literature of an enthusiast, boxes of folders with... prints of my webpages!

Be aware that the conditions for taking pictures are not alweays optimal, lighting sometimes is not good (as with the Type 64 from the Mulhouse museum), distances are sometimes short so I have to use a wide-angle lens. Thus: if you see a slightly distorted car, that's not because the chassis is bent... And lastly, there are people, lot's of people. One has to wait until there's nobody between your camera and the car you're trying to photograph, and there are usually also several in the background. For anybody I cut off heads or legs cropping the photographs I sincerely appologize, and I do hope it did not hurt too much.

Quick links to the specific sections:

• The special Bugatti exhibit, AutoRail and Bugatti's from the Schlumpf collection
• The Bugattis
• Special Bugatti items and parts
• Bugatti Baby's and children's cars
• Bugatti artwork and miniatures
• Modern Bugatti automobiles
• Non-Bugatti cars and other interesting items
• A list of Chassis Numbers of the Bugattis

The special Bugatti exhibit

I did not take as many pictures of the AutoRail as I could have, as I already photographed almost everything I could when the AutoRail was on display in Molsheim during the Festival in September 2023, see: Bugatti Revue Volume 28 Issue 3.

Accompanying the original AutoRail was a very nice selection of original photographs and drawings of the AutoRail, one of the nicest being the streamline drawing, featured at the top of this article. Some of these photographs was not seen before.

Accompanying the fastest Bugatti on 16 wheels were many Bugatti's from the automobile Museum in Mulhouse, ranging from 1923 to 1956. All of them either prototypes or very small series cars.

The oldest of these was the 1923 Type 32, which raced the GP of Tours. One of the strangest builds by Bugatti, with an underslung (chassis rails under the axles) chassis which made it very low, also a very short wheelbase and a 2 liter straight eight which sits directly next to the diver's feet. There is no firewall, thus any engine fire is directly dangerous to the driver, the mechanic or both.

The second one is the 1930 3 litre type 47, with two 8-cylinder engines side-by-side on the same crankcase. Each bank of 8 has it's own crankshaft and supercharger, mounted behind the engine.

Following the 16 cyclinder Type 47, is the electric Type 56, the slowest of the Bugatti automobiles. Bugatti made one for himself to drive around the factory (when he was not using his horse Brouillard or his "Grand Bi" bicycle). Some customers showed interest, and around 10 were constructed.

The last racer from before WW2, and the last more or less successful racer Bugatti made. This Type 59/50B had a 5 litre supercharged engine. However, this is not chassis 50180 as it says in the description. This is the car with Engine no 3, that was never sold or brought abroad, thus never received a chassis number. Note it's condition, there's a strange second dashboard covering the original one, I can't imagine it ever raced that way. Note also the many broken spokes in the "piano-wire" radial-spoked wheels.

Last pre-war prototype, the Type 64 with aluminium chassis. Designed and developed entirely by Jean Bugatti. Note something special in the bodywork, the side windows are curved. Not strange today, but quite novel in 1939. Excuses for the rather bad quality pictures, the lighting together with the black colour of the car do not work.

The 1.5 liter 4-cylinder Type 73, developed by Ettore during the war. His son Jean was killed in August 1939, while testing a Type 57C race car, the same one that had won Le Mans only a few months before.

After Ettore's death in 1947, the factory never recovered. A handful Type 101's was built, based on the pre-war type 57 chassis, with only a few small alterations. Here a coupé and a cabriolet, both bodied by Gangloff. Neither of them a really beautiful automobile.

Bugatti's last racecar, developed by the Italian Colombo. Innovative in that it had a transverse straight-eight engine. Due to lack of funds, the car was not fully developed, and the only race it participated in, Reims in 1956, was a disaster.

Bugatti automobiles

Also at the French Bugatti club stand: this table football game.

The two Bugatti's at the Gooding Christie's auction. No access without buying the 100 euro auction catalogue. Above: Before the auction, below: after the auction. The Type 40 did not sell, the Type 57C Atalante sold at 2.255 million euro.

Nice Brescia Modifiée at the stand advertising an Italian rally in.... Brescia.

At Ivan Dutton's stand this Type 35B, chassis number BC180.

Also at Ivan Dutton's stand, this Caruso midget race car with Bugatti 4-cylinder engine, made by cutting what appears to be a Type 30 engine in half. The racer was built in one month, and raced extensively. The B&W photo is of the same car, with Gesell at the wheel in the 1940's.

1934 Type 57 Torpédo, chassis 57300, at the PreWarCar stand.

1927 Bugatti Type 35C, chassis #4881, at the Chopard watch maker's stand.

The most attractive stand with Bugatti content was that of Bruno Vendiesse and Julien Dubrulle together (right across Julien's stand with parts only.)

Interesting Type 37. Only the colour in the first photo is correct, the car is really white!

Two nice Brescia's and an attractive Type 40 Saloon. I sure hope that nobody will buy it to convert it into yet another Grand Sport.

At the Osenat stand, in a private sale thus not for auction, this interesting Type 43 with Grand Sport-like body, though with long flowing fenders.

At the stand of Jaap Braam Ruben a Type 37 and a very early T57 Stelvio, respectively 37201 and 57110.

Type 46 with Weinberger style body, on display (and for sale) at Aguttes, private sale, not on auction.

1938 Type 57 Ventoux, restoration subject presented by ODS Carrosserie Paris.

A very original Type 43 Roadster by Eugène Matthys of Belgium at Broad Arrow auctions. Note the unusual details like the cast-aluminium steps on the running boards!
The car will be auctioned at Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este on May 16/17.

1925 T35A Course Imitation "Tecla", Chassis #4593 on one stand with a Veyron.

Something new at the stand of the Argentinian Pur Sang company: a Type 32! However... who would buy such a replica, it is virtually undriveable without the firewall. At least put on some fire-resistant overalls!

Special Bugatti items and parts

Julien Dubrulle's stand packed full with all sorts of Bugatti parts! The Vice is a replica.

Traditionally the largest stand with Bugatti parts, that of Bernard Ariztegui. Also on sale a complete Type 57 engine.

Bugatti Baby's and children's cars

At the stand of Bernard Ariztegui this Bugatti Baby. Christian Koux sent me a message that this is in fact an original one with complete history, car no. 315A.

On a stand in Hall 4: A nice-looking Bugatti Baby replica and a pedal car by Pierre Guy from the 1930's.

On the stand of Henri Lalanne, where he was (finally!) selling the book on the Spanish Bugatti's (see: www.bugattipage.com/book90b.htm) a Baby Bugatti kit of parts, which you can order straight from Argentina. The lovely lady was dressed in typical Spanish clothing only minutes before.

Johan van den Berghe Fine Art photography - Bugatti Type 57 Gangloff.

Bugatti art and miniatures

Nice bronze sculptures by Esteban Serassio.

Two Bugatti's, a Grand Prix and the Atlantic in the characteristic style of Antoine Dufilho. Each car is built up of thin sheets of metal, representing the outline of the car. However, the way he does this, how the plates are oriented and such is different in each artwork.

Hervé Nys always surprises with some automobile humour. Here we see the Bugatti Royale, inside the elephant statue. (6800 euro by the way). The following is an egg with a Type 50 engine inside and another is the "Essential Bugatti", with again a Type 50 engine, and the driver. The next version will be corrected to right-hand drive... Also a smaller artwork, with two small Bugatti's, titled: "The end of the tunnel".
Finally a variation on the Elephant Mascot theme, now with an Indian motorcycle inside the famous Indian mascot.

Paintings of the Bugatti Tourbillon by Colline Cavannos.

Modern photo of a Bugatti, taken using the old silverplate technique by Bernard Testemale.

Starting a Bugatti, unusual subject for a bronze statue. At the Dubrulle / Vendiesse stand.

Wire model with futuristic stand by Chris Twitchell.

A casual encounter at a stand filled with antiques: Painting by Roy Nockolds.

The English bookseller Horton's did not offer many books this year, they're more and more focussing on Automobilia. Of which this Atlantic "sculpture" and a large and small Paya Bugat.

Mikhail Bashmashnikov showed me his work on the stand of the French Bugatti club, the You-You in 1:43 scale including engine. Really a piece of genius work!

Nice miniatures, T32 and T59's, by Le Mans Miniatures. Scale is 1:18 and 1:32.

Modern Bugatti's

Blue and Black and Sold Bugatti Veyron.

2019 Chiron "110 years Bugatti"

Centodieci at JMB Classic

Unveiling of the F.K.P. Hommage

Accompanying the F.K.P. Hommage are many other Veyron's, including one in the same colour scheme. Spot the differences! Pictures provided by Bugatti.

Non-Bugatti cars and other interesting items

Always special, a Tatra with the rear-mounted V8. In this case a 1935 Type 777A. Unbelievable price on the windscreen...

The fabulous 1938 Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS Teardrop Coupe which sold at the Gooding Christie's auction for €6,755,000

Completely different! A Citroën 2CV with turbo charger on the small boxer engine, delivering 118 horsepower!

This is what a formula one race car should look like, the John Player Special Lotus of Ayrton Senna.

A line-up of three fantastic post-war Talbot-Lago's, from left to right (standing in front of them): Figoni & Falaschi (Dark blue), Saoutchik and Antem (Light grey).

Another French masterpiece of Art Deco, this Voisin! Look at the really minimalistic rear lights, and compare this with the christmas-tree like lighting on the rear of some of today's vehicles (I don't dare call them automobiles...).

The "Best of the Best" winner of the Peninsula 2025: 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B with Coachwork by Stabilimenti Farina.
Excuses for the not really correct colour.

Chassis numbers

Gathering at the French Bugatti club, impressive background!