Where is the CX market headed? Likely upward, especially since DS models are still relatively expensive. Take the CX Series 2 TRD Turbo 2, for example, which was spotted at Retromobile for around €18'000.

That's quite steep for a diesel, but it partly reflects the car's excellent condition. And remember, back in the late 1980s, this diesel was one of the fastest in the world, with a top speed of nearly 200 km/h, thanks to its 120 horsepower. Just imagine cruising down the 'deutsche Autobahn' at that speed, all while surrounded by the stunning red interior of this iconic car. Sounds amazing, doesn’t it?

Ahead of the rest in technical fields? An example? The 1950 Salmson S4E Cabriolet. OK, maybe not so much in the 1950s, but in the 1920s and 1930s, Salmson engines were among the best. This splendid convertible was on display at Retromobile 2026 on the stand of the friendly Amicale Salmson. Thanks, everyone. PS: Check out the Cotal gearshift, le moutardier, super cute.

Which brand believed most in the Wankel engine? NSU? Citroën? No, Mazda.

You only need to look at these two examples to be convinced. 1969 R110 Cosmo Sport, twin-rotor, 2x491cc, 110 HP; 1969 R130 Luce, twin-rotor, 2x655 cc, 125 HP.

Both on display at Retromobile 2026. And what's more, they look great, too. Congratulations, Mazda.

Affordable rarity? Yes, sir.

1976 Maserati Kyalami Coupé (AM129), 4.2-litre engine (…the 'small' one), sold for EUR 48'300 including premium at the Polo de Paris. If not mistaken, around 130 units were produced with this engine — and this example comes with a five-speed manual gearbox. That's a lot of car for the money. And they were much more expensive a few years ago.

The Kyalami was the first new model developed under Alejandro de Tomaso's ownership. To save time and reduce costs, it was derived from the De Tomaso Longchamp, although the two share neither body panels nor engines — despite their similar appearance.

Are you the lucky new owner?

Okay, you've already seen this car all over the place: 1967 Fiat 125 Samantha by Vignale, spotted at Retromobile and priced at €14K. But the real question is simple: is it worth restoring?

That immediately raises a few critical points. What's the actual condition? Is it complete? How much does it really share with the standard Fiat 125, which is already far from common? Where does the Samantha stand today in terms of collectability and rarity? And how is it generally rated?

Being a coachbuilt car, there's also the issue of specific parts, how difficult are they to source or reproduce? And finally, should the buyer drive one before committing to the project, just to see if it really clicks?

Curious to hear your thoughts.

Do you remember when Fiat was bold enough to compete in different racing categories?

That time may be over, but fortunately the amazing cars remain — such as these two examples: 1974 X1/9 Prototipo with 200 HP, driven by Clay Regazzoni, and 1978 131 Abarth Gr. 4, driven by Markku Alén, both exhibited last week in Paris at Retromobile.

Yes, it was a time when car manufacturer CEOs truly loved cars and weren't afraid to take risks.

PS: Have you noticed the large air inlet mounted on the engine cover of the X1/9? Crazy, isn't it?

Restored or original? Almost new or preserved in its original condition? That is the question.

These two cars were on display at Retromobile in Paris last week. They are not exactly the same, but they perfectly illustrate this tricky dilemma.


Rebuilt: 1965 Bizzarrini 5300 GT Competizione. Unrestored: 1965 Iso Grifo A3/C Corsa.

Hey, wait a minute. According to the seller, the 'unrestored' Iso has actually been restored too… except for the bodywork, which is original. Amazing.

Restored or original? It is up to you to decide.

What would you pay for a special car like this Citroën Chapron Majesty, based on the DS 21? The auction estimate was between €125'000 and €150'000, yet the highest bid reached only €100'000, so the car remained unsold (Bonhams, Polo de Paris, Retromobile week).

One could argue that the seller should have accepted the bid. Why? The usual explanations apply: demographic shifts, changing tastes, and - yes - it is a Chapron (27 units in this setup), but still powered by a four-cylinder engine, and so on.

But let's put aside this mercantile thinking for a moment. Imagine instead driving down the Champs-Élysées in this beauty. Perhaps even being chauffeured, as the car features an internal division. Quite appealing, wouldn't you agree?

Cars are like fashion: there's ready-to-wear, and there's haute couture. Ready-to-wear is standardized, mass-produced, and built to be bought and driven immediately. Haute couture is the opposite: exclusive, bespoke, handcrafted, often one-of-a-kind, and it requires patience before it can be driven.

A perfect example of automotive haute couture is the Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport spotted in Paris last week at Retromobile. Three couturiers shaped it into three distinct visions: Figoni & Falaschi (blue, 1948), Saoutchik (blue and brown, 1948), and Antem (gray, 1949).

Beneath the skin, the chassis and engine are essentially the same; above it, three entirely different personalities emerge. That transformation, identity created through craftsmanship and imagination, is haute couture. Congratulations.

If you have the Citroën gene and the CX chromosome, this is the holy grail: 1988 CX Turbo 2 Prestige. They weren't afraid of long names back then...

Seen at Retromobile 2026 in the under EUR 30K section. The power of the Turbo, the legroom and trunk space, the room for a hat, and the feeling of belonging to a class apart, that's the CX. Superb.

EUR 80'500.- (with premium) for this 1972 Alfa Romeo F12 Minibus. Yes, 80 grand for a commercial vehicle. Crazy? Stupid? Good investment? That's for you to decide.

But what a van. Benefiting from a frame-off restoration, the result is stunning: two-tone paintwork elegantly divided by a red coach line, eight-seat interior tastefully trimmed in brown vinyl with wood panelling. This beauty is powered by the 1.3-litre Giulietta twin-cam engine with a single carburetor.

It may look like a van, but in reality the buyer has acquired a crew-cab Giulietta. Congratulations. Sold in Paris, last Thursday at the Bonhams sale.

The usual approach is to design an everyday car for everyone first, and then turn it into a race car. Right? But what if you already have a race car? How do you turn that into an everyday car? Ask Ford in the 1960s.

The Ford GT40 Mk III was a version intended exclusively for road use. It was, in effect, the street-legal GT40. Maybe not for everyone... only seven examples were built. The Mk III featured four headlights, two more than the competition version. The rear bodywork was widened and lengthened to create space for luggage. Its 4.7-litre engine was detuned to around 300 HP, and the suspension was softened. This one, 1966 GT40 LHD, was exposed during the weekend at Retromobile 2026. Splendid.

I'm always amazed by truly rare cars, though, of course, rarity is relative. This Ferrari appeared at the ICE in St. Moritz in 2024 and, just this weekend, could be seen in Paris at Retromobile 2026.

This 1963 275 P, arguably the most significant Ferrari of them all, is extraordinarily rare and boasts an exceptionally rich history. Yet here it is, displayed to the public in all its glory. My thanks to the owner.

Do you remember when Ferraris were small, nimble... almost practical cars? And of course, at the same time race cars.

Here's a perfect example, spotted this week at Retromobile 2026: 1950 Ferrari 166 MM Berlinetta by Touring, chassis 0048M, also shown at Retromobile back in 2020.

This is the third of just five 166 MMs bodied by Touring in the distinctive 'Le Mans' Berlinetta style. I had previously seen some truly awful photos of this car when it was in a Swiss collection, which makes the restoration even more astonishing. You wouldn't believe the work carried out by Quality Cars in Italy.