Although the R16 may have been the centre of attention for its 40th birthday celebrations, Renault was also displaying a few models that have made an impact on the history of the brand in competition.  

Pride of place was given to the “grandfather” of all of today’s Renault cars: the Renault Type K. This was the first Renault car to win a competitive race, driven to victory in the 1902 Paris-Vienna race by Marcel Renault. 

But what would Renault’s motor sport history be without the Alpine? The numerous berlinettes on display at Porte de Versailles included an Alpine A110, the car used by Vinatier and Jacob to win the 1968 Coupe des Alpes and also driven by Jean-Claude Andruet to victory in the Tour de Corse in the same year. 

The focus of much attention, the Renault F1 Espace won over a knowledgeable crowd of visitors. Based on a Renault Espace chassis, Matra engineers fitted a rear mounted version of the V10 engine used to win the 1994 Formula 1 World Championship. 800bhp to drive 1,300kg, 0 to 200kph (124mph) in 6.3 seconds and a maximum speed of 312kph (194mph) – enough to turn an Espace into a Supercar! 

Retromobile also provided Renault with the opportunity to show a retrospective of the brand’s engines from 1903, with the first 2-cylinder engine, to 1988, with the V10 RS1 engine, marking Renault’s return to Formula 1 racing. 

The next Retromobile will be held in Düsseldorf, Germany, in July.