Soberly titled “Cars and Fashion,” the special exhibition at this year’s Paris Motor Show will spotlight around 50 iconic vehicles which left their mark not only in automotive history, but also in the annals of style. Organized in partnership with the French National Audiovisual Institute, the exhibition will be on display from Oct. 4 to 19.

Presented in Hall 8 of the Porte de Versailles expo center in Paris, the exhibit will be divided into sections dedicated to some of the key periods in the history of cars and fashion: the pre-World War II years (Haute Couture and Concours d’Elegance), the post-war era, the “Pop Art” years, the 1970s and ’80s with their futuristic concepts and iconic ads, and finally the modern age, with its emphasis on customization.

Among the models announced so far are stars of the Concours d’Elegance of 1920s (Voisin Aerosport, Renault Nerva Grand Sport), icons of the post-war years (Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Gullwing,” Jaguar XK 120), emblematic models of the 1960s (Citroen Mehari, Renault 4L Parisienne) and symbols of the 1980s and ’90s (Peugeot 205 GTi, Citroen CX GTi Turbo). Far more recent concept cars such as the Renault DeZir and Peugeot HX1 are among those expected to represent the modern era.

The event will also feature a roundup of cars developed in collaboration with fashion designers and labels, including the Renault Initiale Paris, for which Louis Vuitton created a dedicated luggage line, the Mini Paul Smith, the Suzuki Swift Little Marcel, the smart fortwo Jeremy Scott and the recent Seat Mii by Mango.

The INA, an organizing partner of the exhibit, has drawn on amateur movies taken between the 1920s and ’80s to produce a film exploring the relationship between fashion and automobiles over the period.

Several well-known brands heeded the call to contribute to the event. The Italian label Alcantara will be represented through an artistic installation by Indian designer Manish Arora titled “Life Is Beautiful.” Hermes will display archival images from its catalogs and advertisements in addition to a Volvo 240 Turbo that belonged to Jean-Louis Dumas Hermes, who presided over the company for over 25 years.

Courreges will also take part, presenting three rare prototypes to the public for the first time: the Bulle, the Zooop and the Pixi.

The Ateliers Ruby, the Ecole nationale superieure des Arts Decoratifs, the sportswear brand 8JS and Harcourt Studios will also be represented in the exhibit.

In 2012, the Paris Motor Show attracted 1,231,416 visitors, making it the most attended automotive show in the world. The event takes place this year from Oct. 4 to 19. (AFP)