In recent years, InterClassics Maastricht has become the opening of the classic year. But since last year there has also been an edition in Brussels, the InterClassics Brussels, which is already larger than the one in Maastricht.
Of course we visited InterClassics Brussels. If you have been there, you may have seen us: we not only came to see cars, we also had our own stand. But of course we also - or perhaps especially - went for the cars. Here and there you heard that the fair 'only' had four halls. Compared to Techno Classica or Rétromobile, that might not be super large, but to put it in perspective: there were more than a thousand cars, there are about 400 participants from home and abroad and with an exhibition area of 39.000 square meters it is anyway no small purse. This second edition is already larger than the exhibition in Maastricht, which has reached the limits of growth with 35.000 square meters and 300 participants.
Wide range
However, the quality is more important than the size of the exhibition. In general it was very good, with a few exceptions of course. The diversity of the fair was also positive; where Techno Classica and InterClassics Maastricht are known as '911 exhibitions', the InterClassics Brussels saw a much wider range. The Classicmaster stand was actually the only one where a Porsche truck had been emptied. Well, and the Porsche stand, of course, but there were special ones like the Dakar-959 and a beautiful 935.
However, we liked that the range at the InterClassics Brussels varied from pre-war Alfa's to a Mercedes S600 AMG from 1995. The latter was by no means the only youngtimer, because cars such as a Ford Escort RS Cosworth, Renault Clio Williams and Porsche 968 Clubsport were also on display.
Alfa favorite
It was striking that a Bugatti Type 46 from the Belgian firm Arie-Jean received the prize for the best restoration from the jury. Not because the work was of poor quality, but because the car was not finished yet; apart from an engine and a chassis with a wooden frame, there was actually nothing.
Craftsmanship, but we prefer cars that are drivable. We think our favorite is the Alfa Romeo 1900C Sprint Supergioiello was a beautiful one Alfa from 1951 of which nineteen were made at the time, but of which - as far as is known - only three remain. And why do we think so and not be 100 percent sure? There were more than a thousand cars on the show and when we left the show floor, we saw a BMW 3.0 CSL in a corner. Who knows what else we missed…
Next edition
Today is the last day of InterClassics Brussels, which was opened last Friday by former driver Thierry Boutsen. The next edition of InterClassics is in Maastricht, where you can visit the exhibition from 12 up to and including 15 January 2017. The edition of InterClassics Brussels will also return next year, while a third location will be added in 2018, this time outside the Benelux.
