EPOQU'AUTO HISTORY

• The name Epoqu'Auto registered in June 1982 first appeared for the 3rd event which occured on September  11, 12, and 13, 1982.
  The star of this exhibition was the Pope Pie XI 16 cylinders Cadillac.
• The first 3A Parts Exchange Interface  (Bourse d'Echange) went on at the « Palais de la Mécanique », Hall 29, quai Achille Lignon on June 2, 3 and 4 1979. The expression  « Parts Exchange Interface »  (Bourse d'Echange) was not well known so it was called the : " Musée Automobile de Pentecôte " : 80 cars and motorcycles were exhibited,   25 of them having been manufactured earlier than 1914. The traders were using 35 stands, (parts, toys and books).  For the record " Renel " who was already there would sell stock Renault engines, inside their Billancourt factory stock wood crate for a sale price of 400 Francs. Several years later, rebuilding a Mona 4 engine would cost 5 times as much!  The exhibition was using only part of the hall,  around  2 000 square meters (half an acre), in the center were placed tables and chairs which would be used for the « brevet » examination which would begin on June 5.There were more than 2 000 admissions over the three days , the advertising was completed using posters « sponsored by Ricard » and dispatched by the members of the 3A club among the region, as well as a advertising insert published in the May 1st L.V.A. issue, category free, mail, news...
• The second parts exchange interface occured 8 month later at the « Palais de la Foire », quai Achille Lignon. Inside the february 1st 1980  L.V.A. issue an 1/8 page announcement presents the first International « already » Classic Car show and 2^nd parts exchange interface.  The first advertising was published in the february 16  L.V.A. issue on a  ¼ page same sized and counter paged with Retromobile. About fifty traders were using around 4'500 square meters (1.11 acre) of exhibition area,  4 000 admissions were accounted during the  two days of show.
• From 1982 to 1987, the Parts Exchange Interface, occuring each and every year,  would take place at the Gerland  « Palais des Sports ».
• From 1988 to 1997, in order to find some larger premises,  the show now named Epoqu'Auto, sets up at the « Espace Double mixte » in La Doua :
  
  -  At the beginning using one story  (5'000 square meters, 1.23 acre)
  
  - Then using two stories since 1990 (10'000 square meters, 2.47 acres) for which the admissions top the 10'000 visitors. However, access to the 2^nd level using the steep rampway  was hard to reach  for some of the vintage cars and trucks!
  
  - At last using two stories and additional tent covered space in order to host various military vehicles.  Each year a prestigious showcase would enhance the exhibition :  Bugatti, Hotchkiss, cars of the sixties, Ford...
• In 1998 the show Epoqu'Auto takes places for convenience and quality purpose in  EUREXPO Chassieu ; Using 19'000 square meters (4.7 acres)  in 1998 and 1999 for which we receive 15'000 visitors. Using 21'000 square meters (5.2 acres) from  2000 to 2004. Using 24000 square meters (6 acres) in 2005, and 25'000 square meters (6.2 acres) in 2007 toping the admissions level to 26'000.

This main vintage vehicle show wich happens to be today the second in France after « Rétromobile, Paris », whitnesses over 30 years a non stop growing rate as well as a genuine success for all the passionates ; These people come not only from Rhône-Alpes, but also from all parts of France and from many European countries : Switzerland, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom.

The first Classic Car Exhibition, March 1957 in the former premises avenue Berthelot which belonged to  Henri MALARTRE.