With over 1.2 million visitors each year, the Mondial or Paris Motor Show is the world's most important event for car fans. It lived up to this reputation again this year with a fabulous number of new model creations. However, this year - the show takes place from October 4 to 19, 2014 - only a few historic models can be discovered on the brand stands.
Hardly any classic cars in the main exhibition
The first Formula 1 car in Japan on display at the Honda stand is particularly significant. The Honda Type RA 271 made its debut in 1964 at the German Grand Prix on the Nürburgring. It boasted an innovative aluminum monocoque and its V12 engine was installed transversely.
In 1965, Richie Ginther scored the first Honda victory at the Mexican GP.
Honda later supplied F1 engines to GP teams, including that of McLaren. From 2015, McLaren will once again be competing in Grand Prix races with Honda power in an attempt to stand up to the Mercedes-, Renault- and Ferrari-powered competition.
The fashionable automobile in the special show
Classic car enthusiasts will get their money's worth in Mondial Hall 8, which, as always, is dedicated to one aspect of automotive history. This year's special show is themed "l'automobile et la mode".
Anyone expecting a fashion show spanning the past century will be pleasantly surprised. There are no mannequins standing around, but around 50 vintage cars that are on display in a first-class setting.
They shine against a decorative backdrop of fashion posters from the era, while in the foreground there are several video showcases and steles with exemplary historical and technical information.
Among other things, you can admire:
- Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint, 1954: alongside the new 4C sports model, Alfa Romeo exhibited the incomparable Giulietta Sprint, the coupé built by Carrozzeria Bertone from 1954 to 1965 in 28,394 units (4 cyl., 1290 cm3, 65 hp).
- Citroën 2 CV 6, 1988: The ingenious "Döschwo" is only occasionally seen on the roads here! It was built from 1948 to 1990 in around 3.9 million units (as exhibited in Paris with 2 cyl. engine, 602 cm3, 29 hp).
- MVS Venturi, 1986: This French enthusiast coupé with PRV engine (Peugeot/Renault/Volvo) was also available outside France at the time. The brand is now called Venturi, builds electric cars and is at home in Monaco (V6, 2458 cm3, 200 hp).
- Mercedes-Benz C 111-II, 1970: Pioneering concept car with four-disc Wankel engine and 4 x 600 cm3 displacement, 350 hp
- Panhard & Levassor M2F 6 CV, 1897: The oldest vehicle on display in the special show in Hall 8 is this Panhard & Levassor with the Phénix engine developed by Daimler (111 units built between 1896 and 1902; 2 cyl., 1648 cm3, up to 9 hp).
- Peugeot 406 Coupé V6, 2004: One of 2177 examples of the "ultima edizione" (last series) is on display in the special exhibition; Pininfarina built 107,654 of these perfectly shaped coupés from 1997 to 2004 (only 70,000 were planned; V6, 2946 cm3, 210 hp).
- Toyota 2000 GT, 1970: Understandably, the focus of the special "Car and Fashion" show in Hall 8 is on French creations from both sectors. Nevertheless, it was also possible to take a look at Japan (6 cyl., 1988 cm3, 150 hp).
