1919 Blériot 2 Cyl 500cc Motor Cycle

1919 Blériot 2 Cyl 500cc, Retromobile 2017.

Pour plus de photos du Salon RetroMobile 2017, suivez ce lien.

For more photos of RetroMobile in Paris in 2017, click on this link.

Blériot Aeronautique, Suresnes, Paris, France.  Louis Blériot was the first man to fly across the Channel in an aeroplane rather than a balloon in 1909.  He had a successful company producing aircraft but after WW1 the demand dropped off and he was looking for other products to manufacture.  This motorbike was produced from 1919 to 1923.  It had a 500cc twin cylinder 4 stroke engine producing 5hp powering the bike through a 3 speed gearbox.  An attractive feature were the unusual disc wheels.  There was a kick starter and the top speed was around 65 to 75 kph.  It was advertised with the slogan "She doesn't ride, she flies!" A motorcycle for touring and very good looking for the time, it was also used as one of the first police motorbikes. Only about a dozen survive.

1981 Kremer-Porsche 917K/81

Kremer built Porsche 917/81, Retromobile 2017.

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For more pictures from RetroMobile in Paris 2017, click on this link.

Kremer Racing, Cologne, Germany.  The years 1970 and 1971 were the heyday of the Porsche 917 before these Group 4 sports cars were banned.  Ten years after the 917 had won its second Le Mans 24 hours, it returned as a Group 6 sports car built by the Kremer brothers using a loophole in the transitional regulations between Group 6 and Group C.  The Kremer brothers had become the top specialists in racing, modifying and tuning Porsches during the 935 era and obtained Porsche’s help in this project.  Using the original blueprints, a car was built from scratch in the Kremer workshops and incorporated a number of modifications to the suspension and a strengthened chassis to cope with the newer tyre technology.  However, the strengthening added weight.  The body was also altered to improve downforce with a large rear wing and lower and straightened sides to the car.  Unchanged was the 4.9 litre flat 12 engine that Porsche provided.  Sponsorship was obtained from Malardeau and BP and the drivers included Bob Wollek.  First event was the 1981 Le Mans 24 hours.  Practice did not go well and the car proved much slower than the original 917s down the straight.  However, in the race it ran in the top ten before retiring after seven hours following an off course excursion.   The second and final race was the 1,000kms at Brands Hatch later that year.  For this the original sponsors were gone and the car had big Kremer wording along the sides and on the rear wing with some support from Shell and Dunlop.  This time the car qualified third and early on in the race ran second to the new Ford C100.  Later in the race it took the lead and proved fast around the curves of Brands Hatch with Bob Wollek driving.  Unfortunately the suspension eventually collapsed and led to another retirement.  This was the last major race for a 917.  This unique car is now owned by a private collector and is back in its beautiful Malardeau colours.

1908 Renault AX 8CV voiturette

1908 Renault AX 8CV, Paris-Rambouillet 2016.

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For more pictures of the Paris-Rambouillet 2016, click on the link above.

Renault, Boulogne-Billancourt, France.   This Renault, produced from 1908 to 1913, was one of the first mass production cars designed not just for the very wealthy.  It had a two cylinder engine of just over 1 litre and had a three speed gear box.  Relatively easy to drive, its top speed was around 50 kph. It is a 2 seater voiturette with torpedo type body.  Great to see this still going well today.

1921 Rochet-Schneider Torpedo.

1921 Rochet-Scneider, Paris-Rambouillet 2016.

Pour plus de photos de la Paris Rambouillet 2016, suivez ce lien.

For more pictures of the 2016 Paris-Rambouillet commemoration run, click on the link above.

Rochet-Schneider, Lyon, France.  This mark produced cars between 1894 and 1932, and after that produced just commercial vehicles.  Their early cars were Benz copies.  One of the company's subsidiaries produced Zenith carburettors.  This was a luxury marque but after the First World War really failed to keep up with the time.  For a while they had a UK company and gained some fame around 1903 with some long distance runs in Britain including London to Glasgow in 21 hours.

1907 Le Metais

A very rare Le Metais, Paris-Rambouillet 2016.

More pictures of the Paris-Rambouillet coming soon on Rouenlesafx.blogspot.com

Les Automobiles Le Metais, Levallois-Perret, France.  Not much is known of this French marque, founded by Loius Le Metais,  that existed from about 1904 to1910.  I believe at least the early vehicles had De Dion Bouton engines.  Some cars were used in Voiturette racing in races such as in the 1908 GP de Voiturettes in Dieppe.

1913 Delaunay Belleville H.C.4

Delaunay Belleville H.C.4,  Paris-Rambouillet, 2016

More pictures of the Paris-Rambouillet coming soon on Rouenlesafx.blogspot.com.

Delaunay Belleville, Saint Denis, France.  This car marque was founded in 1903 and quickly became one of the most prestigious manufacturers in France.  A number of foreign royal families purchased their cars prior to the First World War. As with all luxury manufacturers of the time, they provided the chassis and engine to a coach builder.  The body above in the picture is by Rothschild.  The image faded in the thirties and the marque disappeared in the late forties.  The car pictured above has a 4 cylinder 4.4 litre engine and has only recently been restored and put on the road again I believe.

De Dion Bouton 8CV

De Dion Bouton during the 2016 Paris-Rambouillet run for over 100 year old cars.

More pictures of this event coming soon at Rouenlesafx.blogspot.com

De Dion Bouton, Paris, France.  Jules-Albert De Dion and Georges Bouton were early pioneers of the motor car industry who combined together to make the De Dion Bouton marque.  They produced cars from 883 to 1932. The car pictured is an early 20th century car.  In 1899 one of the worlds first motor races was held between Paris and Rambouillet.  An event is held for over 100 year old vehicules to celebrate this event.  This year this De Dion Bouton was taking part.

Maxwell

Maxwell seen outside the Chateau of Rambouillet, 2016

More pictures old 100 year old cars at Rambouillet coming soon on Rouenlesafx.blogspot.fr.

Maxwell,-Briscoe Indiana,  USA.  This American marque was named after its founders.  US comedian Jack Benny was a famous owner of one of their cars, similar to the one pictured.  Early cars were produced in Tarrytown, New York and New Castle, Indiana.   They were one of the big 3 USA manufacturers for a while but overextended themselves with debt and were taken over by Chrysler.

2015 Renault e.dams Z.E.15 Formule E

2015 Renault Formula E car, RetroMobile 2016.   Not very retro!

Have you got your tickets for the Formula E race in April 2016 around Les Invalides in Paris which is round seven of the championship?  I've got mine!   Follow the link below to get one and find out more about the race on April 23rd.

http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/calendar/2016-paris.aspx

The Renault e.dams team will be there with Nicolas Prost and Sébastien Buemi.  After round 4 the Renault e.dams team is leading the team championship and Sébastien Buemi is leading the driver's championship.

The chassis is a Spark-Renault SRT 01E.   The motor is an all electric Renault Sport ZE15 designed by Renault at Viry-Châtillon.  The car is capable of 225kph.

For pictures of old cars at this year's RetroMobile, follow this link.

Aston Martin DB5

Aston Martin DB5 - Retromobile 2016

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For more pictures of the 2016 Retromobile, follow the link above.

Aston Martin, Newport Pagnell, England.   The DB5 was produced from 1963 to 1965.  Over a 1,000 were produced.  It became famous when James Bond drove one in Goldfinger.  It had a 6 cylinder 4 litre engine.  Top speed was 145mph and it took a little over 7 seconds to reach 60mph. .  In the sixties when they were new they cost a little over £4,000.

1947 Stanguellini 1100 Motto Coupé

1947 Stanguellini 1100 Motto Coupé, Le Salon RetroMobile, Paris  2016

Pour plus de photos du RetroMobile 2016, suivez ce lien.

For more photos of the 2016 RetroMobile exhibition in Paris, follow the link above.

Stanguellini, Modena, Italy.  Vittorio Stanguellini was a Fiat dealer in Modena who started to produce cars with modified Fiat engines.   This 1947 car had a pre-war Fiat 508 chassis.  It has an lightweight aluminium body produced by CA-MO Torino (Motto).  The car raced in Italy during the late forties.  There is probably only one of these cars in the world.

Jaguar XKSS

Jaguar XKSS, Retromobile 2015 Paris

Pour plus de photos du Salon de Retromobile 2015, suivez ce lien.

Mon astuce pour faire de belles photos.
Utilisez l'éclairage dans les salles d'exposition à votre avantage.

Top photo tip
Use the lighting in exhibition halls to your advantage.