Trains are wonderful things when they work. Just three and a half hours or so after easing out of St Pancras, the Eurostar, plus one change on the Metro, will deliver you fresh as a daisy at Rétromobile in Paris.

It’s been a couple of years since my last visit. A busy diary meant that this trip would be a brief one, but a quick once–over on Tuesday evening as the stands were being assembled, followed by a more thorough examination on Wednesday, revealed another interesting show.

Like the French capital, it's smaller than you think, but full of surprises ('street' Alpine A110s in unusual colours), priceless artefacts (Mullin Museum Bugatti T57SC Atlantic) and must–have additions to the garage (Hall & Hall's Gulf Mirage BRM Coupé) or bookshelf (anything on the redoubtable Hortons stand).

If you have time — it closes on Sunday, 5 February — do try and make it.

Steve Wakefield Managing Editor sw@classicdriver.com

THIS WEEK IN CLASSIC DRIVER

MARKETPLACE