Retromobile New York will be held at the Javits Center in Manhattan from November 19-22, 2026. This is the first time the show will be hosted outside Paris, where it has been held since 1976.
Curious about what the show has in store for collectors and other car enthusiasts, we had a conversation with Gérard Neveu, CEO of Rétromobile New York, to get details on what to look forward to and what the future holds for the New York event.
What inspired the decision to bring Rétromobile to New York?
For nearly 50 years, Rétromobile Paris has established itself as one of the world's most respected gatherings for the collector-car community. Expanding to the United States felt like a natural next step, given the strength of the American collector-car market. New York was a deliberate choice, with a strong collector community and access to enthusiasts across the East Coast.
Equally important was our desire to contribute something new to the existing American automotive calendar. We have great respect for the existing concours, auctions, and automotive gatherings across the country, and our aim was to introduce an experience that complements these gatherings while remaining faithful to the spirit of Rétromobile Paris.
What have been the biggest challenges in organizing Retromobile's first event outside France?
The greatest challenge has been finding the right balance between bringing the spirit of Rétromobile Paris to the United States and creating something that feels authentic to the American market. We want to respect the traditions and expectations of American collectors while preserving the identity that has made Retromobile successful in Europe. Organizing an exhibition of this scale requires careful coordination from international exhibitors and logistics to programming and partnerships.
We are fortunate to have an extraordinary team and very strong partners. I have always believed that an event's success fundamentally results from the people behind it. Another challenge, beyond finding the right date and venue, has been achieving the right balance on the show floor to ensure that every facet of the collector-car community is represented. We have a plethora of companies eager to showcase their craftsmanship and expertise, and collectors keen to share their extraordinary automobiles. Through the process of curating the floor plan, we have gained a deeper understanding of the American market.
How will Retromobile New York distinguish itself from other major automotive exhibitions and events in the United States?
What makes Retromobile distinctive is that it cannot be defined by any single category of automotive event. It is not simply a concours d'élégance, an auction, a traditional auto show, or a gathering of enthusiasts. It brings elements of all these experiences together, creating what we like to describe as the world's most exciting pop-up garage.
Across more than 400,000 square feet at the Javits Center, visitors will discover a diverse collection of automobiles, alongside the people and businesses that preserve, restore, collect, and celebrate them. Art and design will also play an important role; our collaboration with CART Department, for example, will showcase art cars that explore the relationship between automobiles and contemporary culture. We want to create an environment that appeals to serious collectors while remaining accessible to those discovering the collector-car world for the first time.
Which cars should attendees be most excited to see at the New York event?
That's difficult to answer, as every collector has different interests, and one of the strengths of Retromobile is the variety of automobiles on display. A particularly rare Ferrari may be the highlight for one visitor, while another may be fascinated by a preserved pre-war automobile, an important racing car, or a vehicle with an extraordinary personal history. Among the highlights confirmed for the inaugural edition is a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4*S NART Spider previously owned by Steve McQueen, which will be presented at the Gooding Christie's auction along with the 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster.
The auction house will also offer more than 70 motorcycles from legendary musician Billy Joel’s personal collection, all without reserve. Visitors will also discover collector vehicles from leading European specialists, such as a 1933 Aston Martin, a Rolls-Royce P1 and a 1927 Bentley from the UK, a Gullwing and Mercedes 540K SR LT from Germany, a 1939 Delahaye and a 1927 Delage from France, and a dizzying array of Lamborghinis, Ferraris and Alfa Romeos from Italy.
Of course, there will be USA favorites also, such as a 1932 Chrysler and a 1957 Cadillac Eldorado. Jerry Seinfeld is bringing cars from his own private collection, including the 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder and the 1970 Porsche 908/03 that won the Targa Florio. And let's not forget the curated selection of art cars presented in collaboration with CART Department, where the car is the canvas and artists such as Ai Weiwei create pieces of rolling art that speak to a moment in time and theme. There truly is something for everyone.
How did you approach selecting the more than 100 exhibitors, and what role will European dealers and specialists play?
Our priority was to select a diverse group of exhibitors representing the breadth of the collector-car market. We wanted to include established international dealers, respected American specialists, manufacturers, restorers, craftspeople, and museums, each bringing their own expertise and perspective.
The participation of European dealers is particularly important because Retromobile has always been an international meeting place. Specialists such as Fiskens, Girardo & Co., Joe Macari, and Lukas Hüni bring tremendous expertise and access to extraordinary automobiles. Their presence creates an opportunity to strengthen connections between the European and American markets, while introducing visitors to vehicles and specialists they may not ordinarily encounter.
Gooding Christie's will host a multi-day auction featuring exceptional collector cars. How important is the auction component to the overall event?
Having Gooding Christie's as our official auction partner is an important part of the inaugural New York edition. Their reputation in the international collector-car market, combined with the caliber of vehicles being assembled for the sale, will undoubtedly be a major attraction for collectors from around the world. The auction also introduces an element of anticipation and excitement that complements the broader exhibition.
Visitors will have the opportunity to experience important automobiles in a setting where their history becomes part of a larger conversation about collecting. The sale represents one important component of a broader experience that includes preservation, restoration, craftsmanship, art, and automotive history. Bringing these elements together is what gives the event its particular identity.
What do you hope visitors will take away from their first Retromobile experience in New York?
Above all, I hope visitors leave with a greater appreciation for the richness of automotive history and the people who dedicate their lives to preserving it. An automobile is never simply a machine, it is a reflection of the period in which it was created, the ingenuity of its designers and engineers, and often the personal stories of those who have owned, driven, or restored it. There is something very special about experiencing these vehicles in person, speaking directly with the experts who know them, and sharing that enthusiasm with others.
Also, we really hope that visitors will appreciate that this is the first time in history that there is this quality and quantity of exceptional cars in Manhattan, in one place at one time. Visitors have the opportunity to see the private collection of Jerry Seinfeld, which is closed to the public, as well as the Futurliner- an Art-Deco American icon monumental in scale and design. There will be cars from movies such as Ghostbusters and Batman, plus remarkable Bugattis including the Le Mans winning 1936 Type 57G 'Tank' and the 1937 Type 57SC Atlantic. The list goes on. If visitors leave having discovered something new or made a meaningful connection, I would consider that a success.
What are your long-term ambitions for Retromobile New York, and how do you envision the event evolving in the coming years?
Our ambition is for Retromobile New York to become a fixture of the American collector-car calendar, returning to Manhattan each November as a place where the industry comes together. This inaugural edition is a foundation, not a finish line, and each year we will look to strengthen our offering as we grow alongside our community.
View the article image gallery
