Motor Show: The most important cars that premiered in Paris

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The most important cars that premiered in Paris

Motor Show: The most important cars that premiered in Paris-show

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12th place: the Simca 1000 celebrated its premiere in Paris in 1961. Almost forgotten today is the four-door French rear-engined small car with which the company, founded in 1934 and launched in 1978 by P…eugeot took over the Simca brand temporarily to become one of the major European automobile manufacturers.

Source: Simca

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11th place: In 2002 the Nissan Micra was at the Paris Motor Show for the first time. The Micra was the first real world premiere of a Japanese small car in Paris.

Source: Nissan

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Place 10: With the Suzuki Swift from 2004, the Japanese presented a world car in Europe for the first time.

Source: Suzuki

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9th place: In 1998 the MCC City Coupe Smart celebrated its Paris premiere. The name of the later Smart Fortwo was so awkward at that time.

Source: Daimler

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8th place: In 2012, Opel presented the Adam for the first time in Paris. Opel wanted to relaunch the brand with him. A city car of all things with the venerable name of the company’s founder…It should make the lightning shine again.

Source: Manufacturer

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7th place: In 1976 Ford presented its Fiesta in the French metropolis. Shortly afterwards, the Fiesta became the king of small cars.

Source: Ford

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6th place: The Peugeot Bebe celebrated its premiere in 1913. The legendary Ettore Bugatti designed the small car.

Source: Peugeot

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5th place: BMW can also do Mini, was the surprising message from Paris in 2000.

Source: BMW

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4th place: With the Fiat 500 Topolino, one of the most beautiful people in Italy celebrated its marketing launch in France in 1936.

Source: Fiat

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3rd place: The Audi 50 celebrated its premiere in Paris in 1974. Small can be so chic, but German carmakers first had to learn that at the beginning of the 1970s.

Source: Audi

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2nd place: In 1992, the Renault Twingo attracted the attention of the Parisian trade fair visitors. The charming front design based on the forms of the child scheme made the Twingo desirable…t and curious about its internal characteristics.

Source: Renault

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1st place: In 1948 the Citroën 2 CV celebrated its premiere at the Paris Motor Show. In France, the "deux chevaux" with its air-cooled two-cylinder boxer engine and front drive…eb only voted the most important car of the 20th century.

Source: Citroën

It is not just the show of the most beautiful that makes Paris the greatest motor show. The small cars fascinate the mass of trade fair visitors even more. We introduce the most important little ones.

S.he sees itself as the cradle of the motor vehicle and the affordable automobile for everyone. In fact, the Paris Motor Show, which has been held since the 19th century, is the oldest and still the most popular motor show in the world. A premiere podium, for which gigantic glass palaces and magnificent buildings under the illuminated Eiffel Tower provided a uniquely glamorous setting for a long time.

Nevertheless, it is precisely the small cars that are particularly enthusiastically celebrated by the press and the public. Not a major city car manufacturer that is missing in Paris. After all, the forefather of all Renaults made its trade fair debut here as early as 1898, and the legendary Ford T-model made its European debut.

The tiny French Voiturette was launched here and the first European assembly line vehicle, the compact Citroën Type A, was launched. In short, almost every small car brand hosted happy champagne parties for new minis on the Seine. Here are the top twelve of the most important small car debuts of all time:

The Simca 1000 became a racing icon

That was the convertible in the summer of 1964

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In the summer of 1964, 225 convertibles from 70 brands from nine countries competed for customer favor – here the NSU Wankel Spider.

Source: Audi

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The Alfa Romeo 2600 Touring Spider also made it through the summer with confidence. The Italian roadster was built with 6 cylinders, rear-wheel drive and an output of 14…5 hp offered.

Source: Alfa Romeo

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Was it already clear to the drivers of the open-top Porsche 356 C 50 years ago that they were driving one of the most beautiful roadsters of all time? The car is a sports car icon, however… one with a major rust problem.

Source: Porsche

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The convertible of the Mercedes 300 SE technically corresponded to the sedan. However, the open version had no tail fins and a lower roofline. This made the convertible look somewhat…as more elegant.

Source: Daimler

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Push once, please: A Plymouth Sport Fury Convertible seemed to be forgiven a lot in 1964. Perhaps it was also due to the history of the car: In Stephen King’s novel “Ch…ristine “plays a Plymouth Fury, model 1958, a car with a life of its own.

Source: Chrysler

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The Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray convertible and coupe were undoubtedly among the most beautiful cars of the 1960s. A total of 117,964 pieces were produced, including 45.54…6 coupes.

Source: Chevrolet

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Handsome man in a handsome convertible: in the summer of 1964, Marcello Mastroianni cut a very good figure in the Lancia Flaminia convertible.

Source: Lancia

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A divine (and unusual) convertible was the open-top Citroën DS. The car was available as a factory cabriolet (Cabriolet Usine), and some examples were produced on behalf of customers…llt.

Source: Citroën

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In the spring of 1964, Ford presented the first generation Mustang based on the Ford Falcon. He started the class of pony cars named after him. He existed as a co…upe and as a convertible.

Source: Ford

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Body builder Pietro Frua produced a nice alternative to the successful VW Karmann Ghia: a Spider based on the Opel Kadett A..

Source: Opel

12th place: Simca 1000 from 1961. Today almost forgotten is the four-door French rear-engined small car with which the Simca brand, founded in 1934 and taken over by Peugeot in 1978, temporarily rose to become one of the major European automobile manufacturers.

While the sporty rally versions of the Simca 1000 were up to 170 km / h and thus hunted down the NSU TT or BMW 1602, the 45 hp basic version fought for the throne of the best-selling Gaulish small car for years. Around 1.7 million Simca 1000 were produced in Poissy, France, up to 1978, plus vehicles from Spanish, Colombian and Moroccan manufacturers.

11th place: Nissan Micra from 2002. A Japanese in Paris? Initially, that was nothing new, as Nissan was the first Nippon company to fly its flag in Paris as early as 1957. What was new in 2002, however, was the first real world premiere of a Japanese small car under the Eiffel Tower.

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Actually, Wilbur Gunn was an opera singer. When his career was not going so well, the American emigrated to England. There he built motorcycles and automobiles at the beginning of the 20th century…os under the brand name Lagonda. His three-wheeler designs are particularly popular at classic car events such as the London Brighton Run, the world’s oldest car race.

Source: AP

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At Lagonda, joy and sorrow were close together. On the one hand, the vehicles were very successful in terms of sport. Especially the two and three liter engines from Lagonda were among them …best that the market had to offer in the 20s and 30s.

Source: Heritage Images / Getty Images

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Financially, however, Lagonda could not benefit from these sporting successes. In 1937 the company was insolvent, but fighting continued on the racetracks. in the …that same year, a Lagonda Rapide won the renowned Le Mans 24-hour race.

Source: Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

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In 1947 the British multimillionaire David Brown bought Lagonda and integrated the brand into Aston Martin. However, economic success did not want to set in – even if it was a pro…how the Queen and her husband, Prince Philip, returned from vacation in a Lagonda in the mid-1950s.

Source: picture alliance / PA Archive / em

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Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, is said to have been a big fan of the brand at the time. A kind of car phone is supposed to be built into his 3 liter Lagonda Drophead Coupe…t so that the royal family could always reach him on the street.

Source: picture alliance / Mary Evans Pi

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Between the mid-1960s and mid-1970s, there was no new car that bore the Lagonda name. That was to change in 1974. An Aston Martin Lagonda v…presented. The once legendary brand name was now just a model name, and it was actually an Aston Martin V8, albeit in an extended, four-door version.

Source: Getty Images

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Two years later came a Lagonda that couldn’t be confused with any other Aston Martin.

Source: picture alliance / dpa-tmn

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The car fell through its extreme wedge shape, its double pop-up headlights and …

Source: Aston Martin

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… its innovative cockpit instruments.

Source: Aston Martin

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The British luxury sedan was built until 1989 – by hand. The production of a vehicle is said to have taken around 2200 hours.

Source: picture-alliance / dpa-tmn

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Aston Martin wants to revive its traditional Lagonda brand with a luxury sedan. The car is slated to hit the market next year.

Source: Aston Martin

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However, you will not be able to order it as usual. Instead, the manufacturer wants to approach solvent customers. Only those who have an invitation can buy it. Currently able…rt a prototype around on the streets of Oman. On the one hand to test the heat and sand resistance and on the other hand to arouse the desires of rich sheikhs.

Source: Oman Air

A city runabout that had already acquired the reputation of an inexpensive and indestructible popular figure in previous generations and with its cuddly toy look not only hit women and young drivers right in the heart. The best basis for the Micra to become the first Asian to roll off the assembly line in England in 2.4 million units.

The Micra never became a lifestyle icon, but it was enough to become a cult vehicle. This was not only ensured by its design and practical talents, but also by new special models with collector status. The colorful Micra parades in the fashion metropolis Paris were a must.

The Smart was eyed skeptically

Place 10: Suzuki Swift from 2004. “Don’t underestimate the Japanese,” warned the headlines at the European market launch of the first Swift in 1984. 20 years later, Suzuki was the world’s largest small car manufacturer and accordingly confidently came to Paris. With their new Swift, the Japanese presented a world car in Europe for the first time, which also featured a Western design look, that of the Mini remembered from the BMW Group.

The most beautiful and expensive cars from Pebble Beach

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Confetti rain: The winner of this year’s “Best of Show” Concours was this Ferrari 375 MM Scaglietti Coupe from 1954.

Source: Kimball Studios, ourtesy Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

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For the first time, a post-war car won the prestigious award.

Source: Kimball Studios, ourtesy Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

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The auto show is an absolute must for luxury car manufacturers. Here, Maserati on Carmel Bay shows what it has to offer.

Source: Kimball Studios, ourtesy Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

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The Italian cars were very popular this time. Here an employee of the organizer is polishing the paint on a Ferrari 250 TR59 Fantuzzi Spyder from 1959.

Source: REUTERS

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The examiners take a closer look: The acceptance also takes place according to technical criteria. And the owners maintain the profile down to the smallest groove.

Source: Thomas Geiger

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Celebrities drive up: US talk show legend and motor fan Jay Leno drives up in a 1930 motorcycle from Bohmerland.

Source: REUTERS

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The other side of California’s Auto Week is the Concours d’Lemons, a collection of the ugliest and bizarre automobiles, here in the picture a shabby Plymouth Belvede…re II from 1966.

Source: REUTERS

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This accessory in a 1982 Volvo is also pretty weird.

Source: REUTERS

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The Swede is also not stingy with eye-catching details on the outside.

Source: Thomas Geiger

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Skulls and skeletons adorn this 1933 Chevy Ratrod.

Source: REUTERS

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This Stutz IV Porte is ugly.

Source: Thomas Geiger

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And then there are the new creations of the manufacturers, here the concept car FT-1 from Toyota…

Source: REUTERS

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…and the AMG Vision Grand Turismo from Mercedes, also a study.

Source: REUTERS

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A real rarity went under the hammer at the beginning of the classic car show: the Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta…

Source: REUTERS

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…before the Bonhams auction house heaved him onto the big stage.

Source: REUTERS

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It was valued at $ 38.115 million.

Source: REUTERS

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Examining look: A 1974 Alfa Romeo Montreal were also auctioned.

Source: REUTERS

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This Jaguar XK120 from 1953 has developed a lot of patina.

Source: REUTERS

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The prototype from 1907 named White Model G Runabout is a rarity.

Source: REUTERS

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Before this 1905 REO Roadster was called up at Bonhams, its old owner did a lap with the car.

Source: REUTERS

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He was also a star in Pebble Beach: Project manager Ralf Hettich from Mercedes-Benz Classic next to a 540 K Streamliner from 1938.

Source: dpa

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The streamlined car was supposed to be used in the endurance race from Berlin to Rome at the time.

Source: dpa

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But that did not happen because of the outbreak of World War II.

Source: dpa

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The owner of a 1937 Morgan 3 Wheeler at the Little Car Show in Pacific Grove.

Source: REUTERS

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This event is also an integral part of the automobile week, here in the picture a palazzolo from the 1920s.

Source: REUTERS

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Heavenly assistance: The Bishop of Monterey, Richard Garcia (left) dedicates a 1957 Jaguar XKSS, which once belonged to the actor Steve McQueen.

Source: REUTERS

The Swift was now also available as a diesel especially for Europe, while the 125 hp Swift Sport took over the role of the young and wild in the petrol engine. Suzuki got involved in motorsport again and crowned this in 2007 with a victory for the Swift Super 1600 in the Junior World Rally Championship.

9th place: MCC City Coupe Smart from 1998. The name of the later Smart Fortwo was that awkward at that time. The final production version of the Smart celebrated its premiere in the large halls at the Porte de Versailles – and was immediately the star in the large field of French microcars.

Whether Aixam, Chatenet or Ligier, the established manufacturers of miniature cars immediately recognized that serious competition was threatening them. In contrast, the prospects of the only two-seater, but 2.50 meter short Smart were initially viewed with skepticism by the classic small car manufacturers.

In the end, almost all of the predictions were wrong. Because the Smart is successfully playing in a league of its own and is now in the third generation, perhaps not always earning enough money, conquered most of the major southern European cities and even caused a sensation as a pioneer with electric drive.

The Fiesta name actually belongs to General Motors

8th place: Opel Adam from 2012. Opel wanted to relaunch the brand with him. Of all things, a city car with the venerable name of the company’s founder was supposed to make the lightning shine again. A brave undertaking, but one that succeeded.

Opel’s top models of the 1960s

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The Opel KAD series came onto the market 50 years ago, i.e. the Kapitan, Admiral and Diplomat, all in the same body, just differently equipped and motorized. Here in the picture …are a …

Source: Spotpress

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… Admiral (left) with a 4.6-liter V8 and 190 hp and the rare Diplomat Coupe, which was only delivered with a 5.4-liter V8 and 230 hp.

Source: Spotpress

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With the Admiral, the gears click into place with the steering column lever, but with …

Source: Spotpress

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… diplomats lack this leverage. Its two-stage automatic is operated in the classic way in the center console.

Source: Spotpress

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The noble Opels were very long at 4.95 meters and could compete well against the largest Mercedes models.

Source: Spotpress

With fashionable colors, crisp shapes and almost countless customization options, Adam became the first Mini-Opel that can almost compete with the (real) Mini from BMW when it comes to the optical lifestyle factor.

At least that’s what most – mainly female – buyers think, who even accept delivery times for the 3.70 meter short two-door model built in Eisenach. In the meantime Adam has had a brother: the Adam Rocks in an off-road outfit.

7th place: Ford Fiesta from 1976. Although it was only its trade fair premiere, the Fiesta celebrated it especially exuberantly at La Boum, the auto party on the Seine. In interviews with the newspaper, corporate leader Henry Ford II revealed how the name of the first Ford with front-wheel drive, transverse engine and tailgate came about.

New names were always a top priority for him, although the alliteration Ford and Fiesta seemed perfect. The only problem: The rights for Fiesta were with arch-rival General Motors (GM). A quick call to GM President Tom Murphy solved the problem.

The most beautiful rolling rarities

For three days, parts of Saxony and Thuringia were firmly in the hands of classic car fans. 180 rolling rarities lined the streets and once again caused a rush of visitors. Source: Zoomin.TV

Perhaps Murphy would have been less accommodating with the name release if he had suspected that he was the godfather of a king of small cars, which has brought it to around 13 million units to date. The world car was soon sold in over 70 countries, with production on four continents.

The rebirth of the Mini

Rank 6: Peugeot Bebe from 1913. Only “one sous per kilometer” – this pioneering advertisement announced the Bebe Lion Peugeot in 1913, designed by the legendary Ettore Bugatti and which became the first affordable compact car for a wider range of buyers. But the exciting shape of the 2.62-meter-short two-seater also delighted visitors to the premiere performance in the Parisian Crystal Palace.

The impressive 60 km / h Bugatti construction not only offered enough temperament in the city, it was even enough for class successes in legendary races such as Mont Ventoux. Peugeot produced 3,095 vehicles of its smallest between 1913 and 1916, thus securing an undisputed top position in this vehicle segment in France.

With this victory, the little Mini became a legend

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As proud as ever: in 1964, Paddy Hopkirk won the famous Monte Carlo Rally with the Mini Cooper S. Today the Northern Irishman is 80 years old, but according to their own statements they still drive…rn mini.

Source: BMW

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The victory of the Hopkirk / Liddon duo came as a surprise as the little British car had much less power than its main competitors.

Source: BMW

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For a mini, however, around 90 hp and 1071 cubic centimeters were already quite a lot. But the Mercedes-Benz 300 SE and Ford Falcon had three and four times as much performance to bi…eten.

Source: BMW

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However, the little Brit made a virtue out of necessity: In the changeable conditions, the front-wheel drive of the Mini and the transverse engine at the front were an advantage, as was the case…e the fact that the car was small and the roads were winding.

Source: BMW

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Paddy Hopkirk and his co-driver Henry Liddon secured the final victory in the circuit race through the streets of Monte Carlos.

Source: BMW

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Jennifer, who became Paddy Hopkirk’s wife three years later, was one of the first to congratulate.

Source: Getty Images

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The winner of the Monte Carlo Rally received many congratulations, including from the British government. But what he remembers most is the telegram from Bea…tles drummer Ringo Starr.

Source: Getty Images

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Later the whole band got an autograph. The musicians added the following sentence to their signatures: "You’re one of us now, Paddy". What a great honor!

Source: Getty Images

5th place: Mini (BMW) from 2000. BMW can also do mini, was the surprising message from the banks of the Seine 14 years ago. The original Mini had just died after 31 years of production, when the Munich-based company was already showing a modern interpretation of Alec Issigonis’ legendary concept.

The specifications of the New Mini did not include basic automotive engines with fashionably chic decors and a few fast top performers, as was the case in the past, but a sporty lifestyle from the start. Instead of just three meters, the new one was allowed to measure 3.63 meters and instead of yesterday’s meager 34 hp, the basic version of the BMW Mini already offered a full 90 hp.

With its retro look, round headlights and short overhangs, the new Mini, which was actually a front-wheel drive – but built in Oxford – BMW, nonetheless retained essential components of the old concept. What’s more, he quickly transferred this to an ever larger family of different mini versions, which are now hot on the heels of the original Mini in terms of production figures: BMW has already celebrated three million New Mini.

Topolino lays the foundation for Fiat success

4th place: Fiat 500 Topolino from 1936. Ironically, one of the most beautiful people in Italy celebrated its marketing launch in France. The Topolino (little mouse), as it was affectionately known because of its cute proportions and striking headlights, thrilled people like no other car.

The Gauls could even look forward to a French license version of the Fiat 500, the Simca Cinq. Above all, however, the 13 hp Topolino laid the foundation for Fiat’s small car success story, which continues to this day.

No less than 122,000 Cinquecento left the factory until the first revision of the Italian people’s car was due after the war. This tiny Fiat alone survived all Italian scrapping campaigns as the Topolino (1936-1955) and the iconic hunchback Nuova 500 (1957-1975). In total, over 4.2 million units of these first two generations of the Fiat 500 rolled off the assembly line.

Place 3: Audi 50 from 1974. Small can be so chic. What the southern Europeans already knew 40 years ago and is taken for granted today, the German carmakers first had to learn in the early 1970s. The trailblazer for this was the Audi 50, a mini whose shapes were drawn by star designer Bertone and which even drove mid-range models with powerful engines.

The Audi made its trade fair debut in Paris, when it was already on sale. Above all, however, a few months later he became the father of the VW Polo, which was almost identical in construction, and rolled off the production line in Wolfsburg like this one. Four years later there was only the Polo, and the marketing strategists saw no more room for a small Audi. After all, Audi was to be positioned as a premium brand and at that time no small cars were compatible with it.

With the first Twingo, customers had no choice

Place 2: Renault Twingo, 1992. "Twingo, that drives the world crazy," announced the Renault advertising for the new small car. Not entirely without good reason, the 3.43-meter short city runabout enchanted the premiere audience at the Paris Salon not only with its inner size and bright colors, but also with headlights in the form of cheerfully looking googly eyes.

The charming front design based on the forms of the child scheme made the Twingo desirable and curious about its internal characteristics. There he surprised with space for up to four passengers. This was made possible by the long wheelbase and a sliding rear seat bench for greater legroom in the rear.

In addition, the Twingo fascinated with French purism: A single equipment line, a motor version with 55 hp and only two extras (air conditioning and folding roof) were available for the inexpensive Twingo, which was painted in candy colors. More than 2500 visitors to the fair ordered the cute Renault from the exhibition stand, and the first Twingo generation was able to attract almost 2.5 million buyers.

Duck – the epitome of the classless vehicle

1st place: Citroën 2 CV from 1948. In France, the “deux chevaux” with its air-cooled two-cylinder boxer engine and front-wheel drive was first voted the most important car of the 20th century and then immortalized on a special postage stamp.

After all, by 1990 more than five million sedans and delivery vans of this bizarre and lively model series rolled off the production lines. An inexpensive and pragmatic Citroën, which the press satirically described on the occasion of the premiere in the Grand Palais in October 1948 as "A tin can, model of free camping for four sardines".

What apparently boosted the demand, the early 2-CV buyers had to accept delivery times of up to six years. In Germany, on the other hand, the 2 CV, affectionately known as the “duck”, became the epitome of the classless, eccentric French vehicle, which was also discovered by the student movement in the 1960s.

Despite its high susceptibility to rust, the compact four-door model with its huge roll-top roof has not been forgotten to this day. The Citroën, which was designed in the 1930s, achieved another feat: The 2 CV survived all its derivatives and designated successors, as Ami, Dyane, Mehari and LN can confirm.

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