Volkswagen Golf, Citroën AX or BX, Peugeot 205: these massively produced cars have invaded the salons of enthusiasts like Retromobile, open until Sunday in Paris.
Renault is also celebrating the 50th anniversary of a model produced in more than five million units, the Renault 5, between special series and Turbo models.
“They affect those who are now old enough to be interested in vintage cars, between 30 and 50 years old,” explains Antoine Rachet, head for France of the Benzin auction platform.
"And they're priced way below the 1960s classics. But people are willing to put the price on a vehicle with a clean or well-restored history," he says.
Cars from the 1960s and 1970s have indeed reached the heights at auction, but it is no longer rare to find the Peugeot 205 GTI, produced between 1984 and 1992, at more than 20,000 euros, i.e. its price on release.
These "youngtimers", i.e. cars between 20 and 40 years old, have seen their value explode over the past ten years as they move from the second-hand world to collection, with this sporty version of the little Peugeot as a door- standard.
A 1991 Peugeot 205 GTI model exhibited by the Artcurial auction house, at the Retromobile show in Paris on March 16, 2022 Eric PIERMONT AFP
"From the moment when people with a quilted jacket and moccasins want a 205 GTI in their collection, the prices inevitably increase, and these cars escape a little from the enthusiasts of the first hour", explains François-Xavier Basse, who has launched "Youngtimers" magazine in 2010.
"The advantage is that the park becomes cleaner and healthier," said the expert, exhibiting road versions of Japanese rally champions on his stand.
Any advice on which future classic to buy?
"The Peugeot 406 Coupé, we compared it to a Ferrari, and it is French. The prices are already quivering clearly".
Some of these less prestigious or less good condition cars remain affordable, and could allow the sector to rejuvenate: in 2021, members of French collectors' clubs were on average 58 years old, and 97% male, according to a survey by the International Federation of Classic Vehicles.
The Renault 5 celebrate their 50th anniversary at the Retromobile show in Paris on March 16, 2022 Eric PIERMONT AFP
A third of collectors already own a "youngtimer" from the 1990s. "It reminds me of when I started in mechanics", says in front of a 205 on sale a visitor to Retromobile, Francis Delahaye, 70 years old.
"We can drive with them, they are safe, and we find the parts".
"Cut the age pyramid"
But these young old ones are threatened: their circulation will be limited with the entry into force of the low emission zones (ZFE), which gradually prohibits French city centers on weekdays to petrol cars from before 2006 and diesel from before 2010 .
Cars with a collector's registration document (over 30 years old) will benefit from a free pass, assured the French Minister of Transport in February.
A visitor to the Retromobile show in Paris admires a Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa for children, March 16, 2022 before an auction Eric PIERMONT AFP
But what about these middle-aged cars, much more comfortable and reliable on a daily basis than the old ones, but also more polluting than the more recent models?
"We must avoid excesses. The collector must be aware that he cannot use his vehicle every day", underlines Sébastien Berthebaud, of the French Federation of Vintage Vehicles (FFVE).
The maintenance of these "youngtimers" can also be more complex than for the old ones, underlines Mr. Berthebaud, in particular because they mark the arrival of electronics and fuel injection.
The FFVE would like a "collection" sticker to allow these leisure cars, pampered, to stroll in the city center.
Collector cars on display at Artcurial before auction, at the Retromobile show in Paris, March 16, 2022 Eric PIERMONT AFP
"The big fear is that if we cut the great age pyramid, 15-year-old cars will go to the dumpster", underlines François-Xavier Basse.
"If we kill this market to come, in the medium term there will be no more old cars".
© 2022 AFP