Over the past decade, the automotive industry has undergone a profound transformation, driven by environmental imperatives, electrification, and automation. Yet, alongside this technological evolution, one phenomenon is attracting the attention of car enthusiasts: the revival of vintage cars.
True works of mechanical art, these vehicles are being reinterpreted or resurrected by historic manufacturers or new artisans. They combine aesthetic heritage, contemporary performance, and modern technology. Does this craze reflect a quest for authenticity or raw sensations? Isn't it ultimately a way of anchoring ourselves in certainty and what exists while the global political and economic situation is undergoing rapid change?
Nostalgia as the engine of renewal
As we see every year, more and more visitors are wandering around classic car shows. These concours d'élégance and other prestigious shows are privileged showcases for these modernized vintage supercars. Whether at Pebble Beach in the USA, the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Italy, or even the Rétromobile In Paris, the number of visitors is constantly increasing, and purchases are multiplying. One of the reasons is that visitors are rediscovering the cars of their youth, nostalgia, and the desire to own a car that they dreamed of as a child.
The Rétromobile show has been running for almost 50 years and attracts nearly 150 visitors. In 000, it saw 2025% more enthusiasts than in 12. Other shows are following in its footsteps, and following the obvious craze for classic cars, new events are emerging: Prestige of Beaune, created in 2022, or even Deauville Classic, launched in 2024, which has just held its second edition with just over 12 visitors. Jean-François Texier, its creator, is surprised by the number of sales made on site: "some people come to visit and leave with a car." An impulse purchase that can undoubtedly be explained by the prevailing gloom that is encouraging people to find an outlet. Otherwise, how can we explain the astronomical sums spent on these Car Collector's items? €31 million for Scaglietti's 250 Ferrari 1964LM at the last RM Sotheby's auction in February 2025. The biggest sales attract more than 1000 registered bidders. Some come to outbid each other on site, others by phone or even online. All eager to invest in these collector cars. Artcurial, Bonhams, and other auction houses are making fortunes from these dream vehicles, often seen as investments, as their rarity guarantees long-term value. In addition, their limited production, combined with manufacturer authentication programs, ensures essential traceability for collectors.
Those who don't buy, repair. It's difficult to part with these cars, these brands that have influenced the industry, that belonged to our parents or grandparents. Many companies have understood this and have launched into the restoration of vintage and prestige cars. Jacques Bidault, a former executive at Dassault Systèmes, had a passion for automobiles for many years. An opportunity in his professional life led him to fulfill his dream by creating the company AutoRosati in Fontenay-aux-Roses. He restores, embellishes, and transforms prestige cars, but not only that. He sees, alongside Porsches, Ferraris, and Jaguars, vintage production cars whose owners don't want to part with them.
It must be said that automobiles, more than any other industrial object, provoke a strong emotional dimension. Supercars from the 1960s to the 1990s have left their mark on generations, whether through their presence on the racetrack, their role in pop culture, or simply their aesthetics. The Lamborghini Miura, Ferrari F40, or McLaren F1 aren't just cars: they're symbols.
The market is therefore ripe for a reinterpretation of these legends, driven by nostalgia and the search for purer sensations. Unlike modern supercars, which are often electronically assisted, vintage models offer a visceral driving experience where the driver becomes one with the machine.
The actors of renewal: between rebirths and newborns
The revival of vintage supercars isn't just an initiative of passionate collectors. Several historic manufacturers and new creators are participating in this movement, reviving icons or offering vehicles heavily inspired by the great classics.
For Lamborghini, it is the rebirth of the Countach with the LPI 800-4 produced in 112 examples and all already sold, which is directly inspired by the iconic lines of the Countach of the 1970s. It is powered by a V12 engine, 780 hp combined with a 48-volt electric motor mounted directly on the gearbox, which provides an additional 34 hp for instant response and increased performance. Its customers around the world have the privilege of driving a piece of automotive history reinvented for the future.
As for Aston Martin, it is the DB4 GT Zagato Continuation, produced in only 19 examples, which is a faithful reissue of the legendary DB4 GT Zagato of 1960. This car celebrates both the centenary of the Italian coachbuilder Zagato and the heritage of Aston Martin. Not road-legal, it is aimed at collectors and track-day enthusiasts, eager to access the experience of vintage driving, but with modern reliability. Assembled entirely in the historic Newport Pagnell factory, the DB4 GT Zagato Continuation has a hand-shaped aluminum body and under the hood, there is a naturally aspirated 4,7-liter six-cylinder engine developing 390 hp, mated to a four-speed manual gearbox and a limited-slip differential, compared to 300 hp for the original version.
At Bugatti, the Type 57 SC Atlantic, unveiled almost 90 years ago, remains an inexhaustible source of inspiration for car enthusiasts and aesthetes around the world. This timeless masterpiece directly influenced the design of the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport, particularly in its exclusive “57 One of One” version. Many iconic elements of the Atlantic – including its riveted spine that runs the entire length of the body – have been reinterpreted with a modern twist on this exceptional model. The horseshoe grille of the Type 57 SC Atlantic, seemingly suspended between the curved fenders, remains one of the most powerful hallmarks of Bugatti design. For the Chiron Super Sport “57 One of One,” the Sur Mesure team collaborated closely with the engineers to pay faithful homage to this icon, while respecting the brand’s founding philosophy: “Form follows performance.” On the exterior, a new grille and chrome wheels with blue highlights recall the elegance of yesteryear. Inside, Gaucho leather and custom embroidery subtly celebrate Bugatti's heritage. A true bridge between a legendary past and a legendary future.
Other brands are rising from the ashes and continuing to draw inspiration from their models of yesteryear while innovating with their expertise. This is the case of the legendary bodywork company saoutchikAfter more than 70 years of absence, this symbol of automotive luxury from the 1920s to the 1950s is reborn thanks to Saoutchik BV, a company founded in 2016 in the Netherlands. Its mission: to recreate the emotion and elegance of yesteryear by combining them with XNUMXst-century technological standards, in ultra-exclusive and tailor-made automotive creations.
This company doesn't just reproduce the past: it reinterprets it. It designs and manufactures unique vehicles, combining classic design, high-end engineering, and cutting-edge materials, in an integrated approach that extends from the first sketch to final production. Each model, produced in very limited series, is intended for a clientele of discerning aesthetes and discerning collectors.
The experience offered goes beyond the simple acquisition of a car: the customer actively participates in the design of their vehicle, integrated into a closed circle that makes this adventure an emotional luxury. By paying homage to the coachbuilders of yesteryear while innovating, Saoutchik redefines the notion of the modern vintage supercar. It offers rolling works of art, combining history, style, and performance, embodying the very essence of the exceptional automobile in the contemporary era. Thus, the Saoutchik Legacy is simple and ambitious: to appropriate the DNA of one of the greatest classics of automotive design and reinterpret it, with respect and mastery, to meet the demands of contemporary life.
Inspired by the Mercedes 300 SL, the design and engineering studio of Ugur Sahin Design has worked meticulously to recreate a contemporary vision of this legendary model, making it a new timeless classic.
Another French brand relaunched in 2019, after a seven-decade absence: Delage Automobiles, victory at Le Mans, victory at the Indianapolis 500, world champion of Grand Prix and queen of elegance competitions during the first half of the 15th century. These cars are sold to collectors around the world, sometimes for several millions. Today, the Delage brand, symbol of elegance and speed, has drawn inspiration from these exploits and the 8 Delage 1927 S12 to create with a team of investors and engineers the D1, whose pure yet aggressive design recalls Formula XNUMX and fighter jets. Now, Delage announces its next hypercar and a project for a second sports brand.
French brands aren't the only ones experiencing a renaissance. In the fall of 2024, the Italian Bertone has unveiled the Runabout, a new exclusive model that pays homage to the iconic Autobianchi A112 Runabout concept presented at the 1969 Turin Motor Show. This vehicle marks the launch of the Bertone Classic line, dedicated to modern reinterpretations of the brand's historic masterpieces. The new Runabout combines neo-retro style with contemporary performance thanks to a 6-hp V500 engine, a clear evolution from the 1969 original, which developed only 55 hp. Conceived as a lightweight and agile car, the model is designed for two passengers in an exclusive cabin, with side access absent from the period version. Two versions are offered: a Barchetta for open-air driving without a roof, and a Targa with a removable roof, both faithful to the spirit of freedom and driving pleasure of the original model. Limited to a limited production run, this series showcases Bertone's craftsmanship. For Andrea Mocellin, head of design, this model embodies "the pleasure of driving and the joy of living in the Italian way."
Some voices are raised against the principle of modern recreations, arguing that they distort historical authenticity. Others see it as a unique opportunity to preserve and revive a mechanical heritage that could otherwise sink into oblivion.
The New Vintage Craftsmen
Because they love vintage cars and are undoubtedly inspired by this nostalgia for yesteryear, some brands create and invent vintage models for the 21st century.
This is the case of Patak Motors, a Slovak company whose goal is to design a car adapted to the needs of city dwellers and which transforms all daily activities such as commuting, shopping or dropping the children off at school into an adventure. A car that respects the community and the environment and which incorporates the classic gentleman driver style.
This is how the roadster microcar aims to be attractive, compact, suitable for the city, practical and fun, all wrapped up in a timeless design.
In the same register, Pantore, founded in 2021 by French-Moroccan designer Hakim Ouabbi, specializes in the creation of limited-edition sports cars. Pantore explores eco-friendly and cutting-edge technologies, such as hydrogen combustion engines, aerodynamic efficiency, and the use of recycled and recyclable composite materials. The company embodies a vision combining performance, driving pleasure, and refinement, while addressing current and future environmental issues.
The revival of vintage supercars reflects a desire to reconcile the past and the future, to perpetuate a legacy while integrating modern technological developments. This movement is establishing itself as a genuine underlying trend, supported by a demanding clientele, passionate about automotive history but also attentive to innovation.
Whether through faithful recreations of the great names in the automobile industry, bold initiatives by new creators, or certification and restoration programs, the vintage automobile industry is experiencing a second youth, brighter and more precious than ever.
The past has never been so present on the road to the future.
Corinne Bedrossian
