· By STICK-IN · 5 min read

Renault 5 Maxi Turbo at the front of the Renault stand at Époqu'Auto 2026
The R5 Maxi Turbo leading The Originals Renault stand, hall 7. Photo Sébastien Sollier, © Époqu'Auto

119,457 visitors in three days: the 47th Époqu'Auto, held in Lyon from 6 to 8 November 2026, broke its all-time record, up from 108,000 in 2025. The Renault stand, 40 years of the BMW M3, Giscard's Peugeot 505 sold for a record price and a new outdoor circuit: here is our wrap-up, from a youngtimer point of view.

A record attendance

According to the wrap-up release from the organiser, the 3A club, the show welcomed exactly 119,457 visitors, more than 11,000 up on 2025. The result was made possible by 320 volunteers and by new features which, according to the organisers, "won over a younger audience": a brand-new outdoor circuit and a Drift Village.

Clubs remain the heart of the show. The stand awards went to the Rhône Alpes Spitfire club (over 70 m²), the Fiat 500 and derivatives club (50 to 70 m²) and the C4-C6 Vintage club (under 50 m²).

The Renault stand, a magnet for 1980s fans

As announced in our preview article, The Originals Renault, La Collection celebrated four anniversaries in hall 7: 70 years of the Dauphine, 50 years of the R14, 40 years of the R21 and 20 years since the R26's Formula 1 world title. In the front row, the R5 Maxi Turbo from the 1985 Tour de Corse drew rally fans, next to the four racing Renault 21s.

Renault 21 Superproduction number 21 in Philips Car Stereo and elf colours
The Renault 21 Superproduction in Philips Car Stereo and elf colours, on the Renault stand. Photo Sébastien Sollier, © Époqu'Auto

40 years of the BMW M3 and limited-edition 2 CVs

The youngtimer display, doubled in size this year in the new hall 3.2, celebrated 40 years of the BMW M3 and M4. The racing E30s, in their period liveries, were among the most photographed cars at the show. Another star was the 2 CV, with a display of limited editions built around the 2 CV SPOT, which turns 50.

Racing BMW M3 E30s on the M3 40th anniversary display
Racing BMW M3 E30s, on the display marking 40 years of the M3 and M4. Photo Sébastien Sollier, © Époqu'Auto
Red and white limited-edition Citroën 2 CV
A limited-edition 2 CV on the display devoted to the "deuche". Photo Sébastien Sollier, © Époqu'Auto

Auctions: Giscard's 505 sets a record

Osenat's three sales totalled €2,633,148 including fees, with 73% of lots sold in the youngtimer sale, 70% for collector cars and 76% for motorcycles. The highlight for youngtimers: the 1987 Peugeot 505 once owned by Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, sold for €60,200. According to the release, this is a world record for a Peugeot saloon.

Among the collector cars, Saint-Exupéry's De Soto S3 Convertible went for €109,564, a 1989 Porsche 911 Speedster 3.2 factory Turbo Look for €207,088, a 1987 Sbarro Spatule for €114,380 and François Allain's 2 CV Type A for €28,896. Detailed results for the other youngtimers, including the 1984 205 GTI, the Alpine GTA V6 GT and the A610 Magny-Cours, had not yet been published by Osenat at the time of writing.

An outdoor circuit that changes the show

For the first time, Époqu'Auto went outside the halls. The outdoor circuit, reached through hall 3.2, hosted demonstrations of drifting, vintage motorcycles, cyclecars and fire engines, in front of crowds lining the barriers. A good reminder that these cars are made to be driven.

Lancia Delta HF Integrale in Fina colours demonstrating on the outdoor circuit
A Lancia Delta HF Integrale in Fina colours on the new outdoor circuit. Photo Sébastien Sollier, © Époqu'Auto

See you in 2027

The 48th Époqu'Auto will take place at Eurexpo Lyon Chassieu on 5, 6 and 7 November 2027. Save the date if you want to bring your youngtimer.

Does your R5 Turbo or R5 Alpine deserve its original graphics back before its next outing? We remake the graphics of the R5 Turbo, R5 Alpine and other 1980s and 1990s sports cars to order, true to the period originals.

Source: Époqu'Auto wrap-up press release, Lyon, 9 November 2026. Photos: Époqu'Auto press area, credits under each image.

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